Factors Associated with Home Based Self-Collection for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing

Abstract

Women who are medically underserved may be less likely to obtain provider-based cervical cancer screening because of structural and intrapersonal barriers. Self-collection for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, a method for women to collect their own sample through a vaginal swab or urine collection, has accuracy comparable to provider-based cervico-vaginal HPV testing and may be useful in overcoming barriers to provider-based cervical cancer screening. The purpose of this dissertation study is to examine factors associated with self-collection for HPV testing, psychometrically test Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) instruments, and identify preferences for self-collection for HPV testing. Three distinct aims were developed: 1) factors (sociodemographic, health-related, and theoretical variables) associated with mailed return of vaginal self-collection for HPV testing, 2) psychometric examination of DOI ÷instruments (relative advantages and complexity), and 3) dimensions of self-collection and characteristic preferences to self-collection for HPV testing stratified by age cohorts. This dissertation involved two cross-sectional studies. In Chapters 2-3, data were collected from women (n=168) at food pantries and online. Women were eligible if they were: 1) female, 2) between the ages of 30-65, 3) could read and speak English, and 4) at 2019 federal poverty guidelines for income and family size as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services. Women were not eligible if they had a history of hysterectomy or were adherent to cervical cancer screening guidelines. Logistic regression analyses, item analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, exploratory factor analysis, and tests were used to analyze data. Chapter 4 involved collection of data from an online survey with a sample (n=878) provided by Dynata. Participants evaluated 9 scenarios that varied along 4 attributes: HPV self-collection kit type (vaginal swab or urine collection), HPV self-collection kit delivery (mail, pharmacy pick-up, or clinic pick-up), HPV self-collection kit return (mail, pharmacy drop-off, or clinic drop-off), and HPV test result communication (mail, phone call, or text message). Ratings-based conjoint analysis (RBCA) determined how each attribute influenced the ratings of each scenario.