Clinic for Gynaecology (CBF), Laboratory for Gynaecologic Tumor Immunology, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Berlin, Germany.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic Hospital Battor , Battor, Ghana.
Glob Health Action. 2020 Dec 31;13(1):1838240. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1838240.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Ghanaian women and screening coverage is low. ACCESSING is a cross-sectional study investigating human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence via self-sampling in rural communities of the North Tongu district in Ghana. Female health-care providers (HCPs) were invited to self-collect a cervicovaginal sample with a commercial sampler in order to acquaint themselves with the sampling method.
This study set out to explore female HCPs' perceptions, advocacy for, and implications of self-sampling with the aim of enhancing self-sampling acceptability in the targeted screening population.
A mixed-methods approach was used, consisting of (a) a survey among 52 female HCPs working in a district hospital and (b) 10 one-to-one semi-structured interviews with purposefully sampled HCPs.
The quantitative analysis of the survey (n = 52) showed that, among HCPs who took the sample themselves (50/52), all found it 'Easy' or 'Very Easy' and felt 'Very Comfortable' or 'Comfortable'. 82.7% indicated that they would undertake screening more often, and 98.1% indicated they would prefer self-sampling, if cervical cancer risk is as reliably determined as by clinician-directed cytobrush sampling. All interview participants (n = 10) indicated that they appreciated the program and would recommend the screening to their patients and/or family members and neighbours. Common reasons for preferring self-sampling were less (anticipated) pain compared to speculum examination and more privacy.
Self-sampling for cervical cancer screening is highly acceptable to female HCPs. Setting up a workplace screening program that entails the option of self-sampling could create greater awareness and positive attitudes among HCPs to educating their patients, families, and neighbours on cervical cancer risks and motivate HCPs to advocate for women's participation in screening.
宫颈癌是加纳女性中第二常见的癌症，筛查覆盖率较低。ACCESSING 是一项横断面研究，通过在加纳北部 Tongu 区的农村社区进行自我采样，调查人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）的流行率。邀请女性卫生保健提供者（HCP）使用商业采样器自行采集宫颈阴道样本，以使她们熟悉采样方法。
本研究旨在探讨女性 HCP 对自我采样的看法、倡导和影响，以期提高目标筛查人群对自我采样的接受度。
采用混合方法，包括（a）对一家地区医院的 52 名女性 HCP 进行调查，以及（b）对有目的抽样的 HCP 进行 10 次一对一半结构式访谈。
对调查（n=52）的定量分析显示，在自行采样的 HCP 中（50/52），所有人都认为“容易”或“非常容易”，并感到“非常舒适”或“舒适”。82.7%的人表示，如果宫颈癌风险像由临床医生指导的宫颈刷采样一样可靠地确定，他们会更频繁地进行筛查，98.1%的人表示他们更喜欢自我采样。所有访谈参与者（n=10）都表示他们赞赏该项目，并会向他们的患者及其/或家庭成员和邻居推荐该筛查。偏爱自我采样的常见原因是与阴道镜检查相比，疼痛程度较低，且更私密。
自我采样进行宫颈癌筛查非常受女性 HCP 欢迎。建立一个包含自我采样选项的工作场所筛查计划，可以提高 HCP 对教育患者、家庭和邻居了解宫颈癌风险的意识和积极性，并激励 HCP 倡导妇女参与筛查。
