Lucksom Pesona Grace, Sherpa Mingma Lhamu, Pradhan Anup, Sherpa Mingma
Department of OBG, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Sikkim Manipal University, 5thMile Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim India.
Department of Biochemistry, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Sikkim Manipal University, Gangtok, Sikkim India.
J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2024 Aug;74(4):364-370. doi: 10.1007/s13224-024-02049-6. Epub 2024 Aug 28.
Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common cancer among women in India and in Sikkim. Screening helps in prevention and early detection of the disease; however, pelvic examination for smear collection is not preferred by many. Self-sampling method can be a good alternative for collection of smears, thus increasing screening uptake. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate perception about self-sampling method of screening among women in Sikkim.
A total of 210 women who consented for this study were screened for cervical cancer using Pap smear and HPV DNA. Women were taught to collect their self-sample for HPV DNA test. Questionnaires were used to assess their attitude toward self-sampling prior to collection of samples and perception, post-collection.
Seventy-percent women knew that CC is the most common cancer among women in Sikkim. 73% knew that it could be prevented, but only 57% had knowledge about screening facilities in Sikkim. 50% women knew about HPV vaccination program in Sikkim. 96% women had never done a self-sampling, while 67% had never heard about it. There was a significant change ( value < 0.00001) in perception toward self-sampling after the procedure. Comparative analysis showed that women found self-collection easier than expected. If they had a choice, they would prefer self-sampling over physician sampling; however, due to their trust in physicians they still believed physician collected sample would be better.
Self-sampling is a socially acceptable screening technique and can increase compliance among socially shy community.
宫颈癌（CC）是印度和锡金邦女性中第二常见的癌症。筛查有助于预防和早期发现该疾病；然而，许多人并不倾向于通过盆腔检查来采集涂片。自我采样方法可以是采集涂片的一个很好的替代方法，从而提高筛查的接受度。因此，开展了一项研究以评估锡金邦女性对自我采样筛查方法的看法。
共有210名同意参与本研究的女性接受了巴氏涂片和人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）DNA检测以筛查宫颈癌。教导女性自行采集用于HPV DNA检测的样本。在采集样本之前，使用问卷评估她们对自我采样的态度，在采集样本之后评估她们的看法。
70%的女性知道宫颈癌是锡金邦女性中最常见的癌症。73%的女性知道宫颈癌可以预防，但只有57%的女性了解锡金邦的筛查设施。50%的女性知道锡金邦的HPV疫苗接种计划。96%的女性从未进行过自我采样，而67%的女性从未听说过自我采样。在操作之后，对自我采样的看法有显著变化（值<0.00001）。对比分析表明，女性发现自行采集比预期更容易。如果她们有选择，她们会更喜欢自我采样而非医生采样；然而，由于她们对医生的信任，她们仍然认为医生采集的样本会更好。
自我采样是一种社会可接受的筛查技术，可以提高社交害羞群体的依从性。
