New home kits 'boost smear test numbers'
Women who are too embarrassed or busy to attend smear tests could be helped by home kits to detect early signs of cervical cancer, research suggests.
British scientists found posting a self-sample test to women who had not responded to two previous notifications was more effective than another letter reminding women their examination was due.
They sent human papillomavirus (HPV) detection kits to 1,500 study participants and written notifications to another 1,500.
In the first group, 96 women (6.4%) completed the home test, with eight testing positive for HPV and one woman found to have an invasive cancer. A further 57 (3.8%) were prompted to book a smear appointment with their GP.
Only 68 women (4.5%) in the other group went for cervical screening after getting their third reminder.
Study author Dr Anne Szarewski said: “Women who don’t go for cervical screening face a higher risk of cervical cancer, so it’s important to encourage these women to take part.
“Home testing for HPV is as accurate as samples taken by doctors and can help address some of the reasons, like finding time or being embarrassed, that women often give as reasons for not attending screening.”
HPV is a major cause of cervical cancer.
