PIPS (Psychological Impact of Primary Screening for HPV)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Psychological Impact of Primary Screening for HPV
IRAS ID
199464
Contact name
Jo Waller
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme is piloting the use of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the primary test in cervical screening. Women attending for cervical screening will first have an HPV test and cytology will only be carried out on the residual samples of women who are HPV positive. This differs to current screening where cytology is carried out first, followed by HPV testing if necessary. In real terms for patients, this means that the way in which cervical cancer risk is communicated will change. All women entering the screening pilot programme will find out whether they have certain strains of HPV which account for 70% of cervical cancer, and are sexually transmitted. It is possible that this change may have psychological implications and/or impact future engagement with the screening programme. This is particularly relevant for those women who find out they are HPV positive but do not have an abnormal cytology result; anxiety may still be present if these results are misinterpreted.
Epidemiological and cost-effectiveness analyses of primary HPV testing have already been commissioned. This project aims to evaluate the psychological impact of this programme. A cross-sectional design will be adopted: questionnaires will be issued to women (N=673) who have received different standardised screening results shortly after they receive them, and at 6 months and 12 months follow-up.
We are primarily interested in how different test results impact anxiety and general distress. Secondary outcomes include understanding of screening results, knowledge of HPV, concern about results, perceived risk of cervical cancer, psycho-sexual functioning, intention to engage in future screening and health-related quality of life.
The results of this study will help to determine the future viability for national roll-out of the HPV primary screening programme.
This study has been commissioned by Public Health England (PI: Dr Jo Waller)
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0902
Date of REC Opinion
30 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion