Study Suggests Ways to Improve Education on HPV Self-Collection
A new study published in Cancer Management and Research found ways to enhance patient education on HPV self-collection.
Researchers at the UF Health Cancer Institute organized community focus groups to figure out what people needed to know about at-home HPV collection. Screening for HPV is important since “99% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV,” and screening early can result in “monitoring and treatment of cervical cancer abnormalities three to seven years before they develop into cancer.”
The FDA approved the first at-home cervical cancer screening tool in May 2025, and “most U.S. insurance providers will cover this method starting in 2027.”
Researchers conducted “three focus groups with 13 women living with chronic conditions in ZIP codes associated with high poverty rates in North Central Florida. Women living with chronic conditions and in poverty have a higher risk of cervical cancer than the general population because they have lower screening rates.” Researchers identified three areas of opportunity to improve education materials – using “clear and simple language to educate people” about sample collection; using “visual aids;” and offering materials in more languages.
