Abstract C131: Acceptability of HPV self-collection for cervical cancer prevention

Abstract Over 13,000 women are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer and >4,000 women die from this preventable disease in the United States annually. Black women are 50% more likely to die compared to White women. More than half of all cervical cancer cases occur in women who have never been or are infrequently screened. HPV self-collection may increase access to cervical cancer screening and reduce healthcare disparities. The National Cancer Institute-sponsored ‘Self-collection for HPV testing to Improve Cervical Cancer Prevention’ (SHIP) trial seeks to expand evidence on self-collection-based screening approaches. This study explores acceptability and preferences for HPV self-collection at the University of Pennsylvania site, one of 25 SHIP trial sites in the US. The study included individuals with a cervix, >25 years, and referred for colposcopy and/or LEEP after testing positive for HPV or found to have abnormal cytology within 12 months preceding the referral visit. Exclusion criteria included current pregnancy or delivery in the past 3 months, cervical excisional procedures or ablative therapy to the cervix in the 12 months prior to the referral visit, and history of a complete or partial hysterectomy. After obtaining informed consent and verifying demographic information, an Instructions for Use (IFU) document, detailing how to complete the HPV self-collection using the Rovers Evalyn® Brush for vaginal self-collection, were provided to the study participants. Participants completed the self-collection procedure in an adjoining private bathroom and handed the self-collection device to clinic staff for further processing. Before undergoing other study procedures, participants were offered an optional questionnaire about their experiences of self-collection. Participants received a $50 debit or gift card for reimbursement of time and efforts for involvement in the study. Out of 75 consented participants, 72 (96%) completed the questionnaire. Mean age was 40 years (s.d.12, range 25-70). The majority were Black/African American (64%), with 31% White, 1% Asian, 4% more than one race, and 7% of Hispanic ethnicity. All respondents found the self-collection process easy to perform. Two-thirds (66%) of participants reported no discomfort with self-collection (29% slight and 4% moderate discomfort). All but one participant (99%) found the IFU clear. When asked which method of sample collection they preferred, the majority (60%) indicated self-collection, about one third (34%) had no preference, and only a small fraction (6%) indicated clinician collection1. Among those that prefer self-collection, the top three factors they considered most important when choosing a sample collection method were convenience, ease of use, and accuracy. This is one of the first studies to report HPV self-collection acceptability and preferences among a predominantly Black population. Self-collection for HPV testing is a feasible, acceptable, and a highly preferred approach with the majority of participants finding the IFU to be very clear and reporting no discomfort. Citation Format: Ashley E. Santaniello, Carolina E. Viswanath, Sarah Cohen, Haideliza Soto-Calderon, Lauren Vincent, Joanna Wishnoff, Abike James, Danielle Burkland, Isabella An, Margaret G. House, Vikrant V. Sahasrabuddhe, Carmen E. Guerra. Acceptability of HPV self-collection for cervical cancer prevention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C131.