Acceptability and preferences of dry HPV-HR self-sampling mailed kits among Canadian women: a cross-sectional study

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease, is identified as the source of 99.7% of cervical cancers. Screening for cervical cancer using oncogenic HPV (HR HPV) detection is more sensitive than traditional cytology. However, few Canadian data exist on HR HPV self-sampling.To evaluate the acceptability of HR HPV self-sampling by patients, the percentage of correctly collected samples, the return rate of mailed kits, and the HPV positivity rate in a population sample based on different cervical cancer risk factors.We conducted an observational cross-sectional study on HPV primary cervical cancer screening with self-collected cervicovaginal samples through mail service.Four hundred kits were mailed and 310 kits were returned; this therefore makes a return rate of 77.5%. Of these, 84.2% of patients were very satisfied with this method and 95.8% (297/310) of patients would choose self-sampling over cytology as their primary screening method. All patients would recommend this screening method to their friend or family member. 93.8% of the samples could be analyzed correctly and the HPV positivity rate was 11.7%.In this large and random sample, there was a strong interest in self-testing. Offering HR HPV self-sampling could increase access to cervical cancer screening. The self-screening method could also be a part of the solution to reach under-screened populations, in particular those who do not have a family doctor or avoid gynaecologic exams because of pain or anxiety.