title: Acceptability and response to a postal survey using self-taken samples for HPV vaccine impact monitoring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and acceptance of a postal survey to measure human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and monitor vaccine impact, using self-taken specimens from young women who do not attend their first cervical screening appointment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups informed the survey design identifying factors that would influence acceptability. Postal testing kits were sent to a nationally representative sample of unscreened women. Overall response rate, the influence of different specimen types (urine or vaginal swab) and the receipt of a reminder letter on participation were calculated. Specimens were tested anonymously for HPV. Individual test results were not provided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 5500 kits sent, 725 were returned (13.2%). Fifty-two women actively opted out. There was a higher return rate for urine kits (13.7% vs 12%) and from those who received a reminder letter (15.5% vs 12.2%). Response was influenced by deprivation (10.3% in the most deprived quintile vs 16.2% in the least). Overall weighted HPV prevalence was 35.9% (40.0% from swab specimens and 31.9% from urine).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some women were willing to participate in anonymised postal testing. However, the low uptake means that HPV prevalence results are difficult to interpret for ongoing surveillance. Monitoring HPV vaccine impact outwith the cervical screening programme remains challenging.
authors: NSS Health Protection Scotland, Meridian Court, 5 Cadogan Street, G2 6QE Glasgow, UK. k.sinka@nhs.net
authors: Katy
authors: K
authors: Sinka
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Lacey
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Robertson
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Kavanagh
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Cuschieri
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Nicholson
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Donaghy
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000379:methods*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines