Transitioning from Cytology to HPV Test-Based Primary Cervical Screening in Canada: A Population-Based Survey of Women’s Screening and Information Preferences

Background: Canada’s cervical cancer elimination plan is challenged by suboptimal screening participation and rising incidence of cervical cancer over the past decade. Cytology, the primary cervical screening method in Canada, is being replaced with HPV testing, which offers superior sensitivity for detecting pre-cancerous lesions and supports initiating screening at age 25 or older and extending screening intervals to five years. Research has shown that women’s insufficient knowledge and negative attitudes toward HPV screening represent a significant barrier to screening uptake. Methods: We conducted a web-based national survey using Best–Worst Scaling (trade off utilities) to quantify women’s preferences for screening test modality, age of initiation, and screening intervals. We also assessed preferences for information sources, provider type, and communication methods. Underscreened individuals were oversampled. Results: Among adequately screened (N = 1778) and underscreened (N = 1570) individuals, preferences favoured co-testing (cytology plus HPV testing), initiating screening at age 21, and three-year screening intervals. Underscreened participants showed relatively higher preference for HPV self-sampling, and as opposed to adequately screened participants, preferred screening by a gynecologist rather than a family physician. Across groups, participants preferred receiving screening-related information and communication by email over postal mail. Conclusions: The misalignment between women’s preferences and current HPV test-based screening implementation plans requires immediate education interventions and modernized, user-preferred communication channels for cervical screening-eligible individuals in Canada.