L'autoprelievo vaginale come strumento per aumentare la compliance nello screening del cervicocarcinoma.

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as a risk factor that leads to CC. An increasing body of evidence supports the validity of self-sampling as an alternative to clinician collection for primary HPV screening that could increase cervical cancer screening. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the potential of HPV self-sampling as a key element to increase screening coverage globally. This study aims to investigate the women’s level of acceptance of vaginal self-sampling compared to the traditional sampling collected by clinicians and the burden of COVID-19 in CC screening. Methods: A total of 642 women were asked to collect a vaginal self-sampling. 150 of them were enrolled in Extended VALHUDES study and 100 in European VALHUDES study in North Sardinia, at Consultori Familiari ASL Sassari centre. 392 women were enrolled in a LILT’s (Lega Italiana Lotta contro I Tumori) project. Women were asked to complete a questionnaire based on their acceptance of the self-sampling method. Moreover, a CC screening survey from North Sardinia was evaluated to better understand the burden of COVID-19 pandemic in CC screening program. Results: Women reported high acceptance for self-sampling. 96% (616/642) assessed they preferred the self-sampling to the traditional pap-test and would perform it again. 98% (628/642) of them judged the procedure easy. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease of adhesion of 20% in 2020. Results show an increase of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) of any degree from 28 in 2019 to 68 in 2021. Conclusion: HPV self-sampling can increase cervical cancer screening and reduce its burden globally. HPV self-sampling is key method which can be considered as an option especially in women who are reluctant or unable to attend regular screening, in a setting where COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced access to screening and primary care. Keywords: HPV; cervical cancer; self-sampling; screening; COVID-19.

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as a risk factor that leads to CC. An increasing body of evidence supports the validity of self-sampling as an alternative to clinician collection for primary HPV screening that could increase cervical cancer screening. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the potential of HPV self-sampling as a key element to increase screening coverage globally. This study aims to investigate the women’s level of acceptance of vaginal self-sampling compared to the traditional sampling collected by clinicians and the burden of COVID-19 in CC screening. Methods: A total of 642 women were asked to collect a vaginal self-sampling. 150 of them were enrolled in Extended VALHUDES study and 100 in European VALHUDES study in North Sardinia, at Consultori Familiari ASL Sassari centre. 392 women were enrolled in a LILT’s (Lega Italiana Lotta contro I Tumori) project. Women were asked to complete a questionnaire based on their acceptance of the self-sampling method. Moreover, a CC screening survey from North Sardinia was evaluated to better understand the burden of COVID-19 pandemic in CC screening program. Results: Women reported high acceptance for self-sampling. 96% (616/642) assessed they preferred the self-sampling to the traditional pap-test and would perform it again. 98% (628/642) of them judged the procedure easy. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease of adhesion of 20% in 2020. Results show an increase of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) of any degree from 28 in 2019 to 68 in 2021. Conclusion: HPV self-sampling can increase cervical cancer screening and reduce its burden globally. HPV self-sampling is key method which can be considered as an option especially in women who are reluctant or unable to attend regular screening, in a setting where COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced access to screening and primary care.