"It Feels Like Health Care With the Patient in Mind": VA Patient and Staff Perspectives on Self-Collected HPV Testing.
Womens Health Issues
; 2024 Jun 17.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38890078
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Self-collected testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) is poised to transform cervical cancer screening. Self-tests demonstrate similar accuracy to clinician-collected tests, but for the half a million women served by the Veterans Health Administration (VA) and their clinicians, self-collected cervical cancer screening would be a new practice. We examined VA patient and staff perspectives to inform future implementation.METHODS:
Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted between 2021 and 2022 with female veterans receiving VA care (n = 22) and VA women's health nurses, clinicians, and administrators (n = 27). Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Interview questions addressed knowledge and interest, potential advantages or disadvantages, and any questions participants had about self-collected screening. Responses were analyzed using rapid qualitative methods. MAINFINDINGS:
Five overarching themes were identified. Both patients and staff indicated high interest and enthusiasm for self-collected HPV testing, tempered by questions about test accuracy and logistical considerations. Familiarity with self-testing for other conditions such as colon-cancer screening or COVID made self-collection seem like a simple, convenient option. However, self-testing was not viewed as a good fit for all patients, and concerns about lost opportunities or missed incidental lesions were raised. Patients and staff described challenges with pelvic examinations for patients with past sexual trauma, particularly in the male-dominated VA environment. Pelvic exams can leave patients feeling vulnerable and exposed; self-collected testing was seen as a mechanism for patient empowerment. PRINCIPALCONCLUSIONS:
Veteran patients and VA staff shared common perspectives about potential advantages and disadvantages of self-collected HPV testing. Self-collected HPV testing has the potential to improve trauma-informed preventive health care for veterans.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Womens Health Issues
Asunto de la revista:
GINECOLOGIA
/
OBSTETRICIA
/
SAUDE DA MULHER
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article