title: Self-collected human papillomavirus testing acceptability: comparison of two self-sampling modalities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing can be used as a primary test for cervical cancer screening. HPV self-sampling has the potential to replace physician/nurse sampling. Our objective was to compare the acceptability of two self-sampling methods among 205 women undergoing an excisional procedure for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eleven patients were given a Hybrid Capture (HC) Cervical Sampler™ (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), and 94 received a self-lavaging device, the Delphi® Screener (Delphi Bioscience, Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands), both with written instructions. Self-sampling was performed just before the clinician-collected cervical sample. Women responded to questions using 5-point ordinal scales on the general acceptability of self-sampling and the physical comfort, embarrassment, pain, and difficulty experienced. Participants were also asked whether they prefer self-sampling or clinician sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both self-sampling methods were generally accepted with a significantly high score (p = 0.005) and significantly lower embarrassment (p = 0.042) in favor of the Delphi Screener. Both self-sampling methods were physically well accepted, not painful, and easy to perform. Most women (n = 117, 68%) preferred the self-sampled compared to the clinician-sampled test, with a significantly higher proportion in the Delphi Screener group (n = 59, 77.6%) compared to those using the HC Sampler (n = 58, 60.4%) (p = 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that self-sampling for HPV testing is favorably received by women. A sampling device specifically developed for self-sampling, such as the Delphi Screener, shows the highest degree of satisfaction. A well-accepted HPV sampling method could be especially useful for women who do not take part in cervical screening or in settings where organized screening is not fully implemented.
authors.affiliation: Preventive Gynaecology Unit, European Institute of Oncology, via Ripamonti 435, Milan, Italy. sarah.igidbashian@ieo.it
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Igidbashian
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boveri
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spolti
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Radice
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sandri
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sideri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult