PROMOTER Trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pragmatic randomized control trial which evaluates the potential for HPV self-testing to promote participation in cervical screening (PROMOTER) trial
IRAS ID
203560
Contact name
Lilantha Wedisinghe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
RD&I, University Hospital of Coventry & Warwickshire
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Cervical screening saves thousands of lives in the UK. However, every year in UK around 3000 women get cervical cancer and 1000 women die from it. Most of these women were not up-to-date with their smear test. Women do not attend their routine smear test for variety of reasons. Such women may accept self-sampling at home, which is as good as the smear test in preventing cervical cancer. This home self-sampling test checks for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) the virus which can cause cancer the cervix. This is different to a routine smear test which checks for abnormal cells on the cervix. Although the self-collected HPV test is commercially available for various prices between £45 and £140, it is not available as a part of the National Screening Programme.
The aim of this research is to assess the feasibility of making this home testing available to women who have declined smear testing, through the NHS to help beating cervical cancer.
We plan to identify all defaulters living in Coventry between 30 and 40 years and send them a letter reminding them to have a smear test. If they do not wish to have a smear test, they could order a self-HPV test by returning a slip in the pre-paid envelope. We then send her a self-collection kit. Self-collected sample will be returned to the laboratory in the first class mail. Results of the HPV test will be posted in 2 weeks. Whist HPV positives (10-15%) will be advised to have a smear test, HPV negatives (85-90%) will be advised to accept her next smear invitation. This was piloted in Dumfries and Galloway Health Board in 2012. Whilst it had been the second best cervix screened Health Board in mainland Scotland from 2000-2012, it is the best since 2013.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0226
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion