Acceptability and Experience of HPV Self-Sampling for Cervical Cancer Screening in Primary Care
Care Continuum
Singapore Health Biomedical Congress
National Healthcare Group
29 January 2026
This study aims to find out the acceptability and experience of HPV self- sampling compared with nurse-sampling among women. Our study found that self-sampling was associated with fewer negative experiences.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 29 January 2026
Tags: Care Continuum, Primary Care, Preventive Care, Patient Education, Self Care
About this Content
Aims
This study aims to find out the acceptability and experience of HPV self- sampling compared with nurse-sampling among women attending the polyclinics in Singapore.
Background
In Singapore, Cervical cancer screening programme has been introduced since 2004. However, the uptake remains low at 45- 48%, which is below the WHO target of 70%. Barriers reported by women include embarrassment, anxiety, and fear of pain during clinician sampling screening. HPV self- sampling screening test provides a private, less invasive alternative, and may help improve cervical cancer screening uptake, particularly among the under- screen women.
Methods
A randomized control trial was conducted at NHG Health Polyclinics. Women in the usual care arm were offered routine nurse-sampling test, while those in the intervention were offered nurse or self-sampling test. Surveys were administered to self-sampling (n=104) and nurse-sampling (n=218) participants. Willingness to re-screen, preferred future screening modality (self or nurse-sampling), and subjective experiences across five domains: discomfort, anxiety, embarrassment, unpleasantness, trust in results were assessed. Responses were compared using logistic regression adjusted for baseline characteristics.
Results
312 screened participants (96.3%) completed the questionnaire. Self-samplers were significantly younger (mean age 51.3 vs. 53.7 years, p=0.046) and more likely to have secondary or higher education (89.4% vs. 79.8%,p=0.032). Self-sampling was associated with lower odds of discomfort (OR 0.03,95% CI 0.23), anxiety (OR 0.25,95% CI 0.12- 0.52), embarrassment (OR 0.31,95% CI 0.15- 0.65), and unpleasantness (OR 0.13,95% CI 0.03- 0.57). Trust in results (OR 1.75,95% CI 0.54-5.73) and willingness to re-screen (OR 1.20,95% CI 0.413.53) were not significantly different. Preferences aligned with the method experienced 77.8% of self-samplers preferred self-sampling (OR 380.94,95% CI 79.351828.72), while 84.1% of nurse-samplers preferred nurse-sampling (OR 0.01,95% CI 0.01-0.03).
Conclusion
Our study found that self-sampling was associated with fewer negative experiences. However, the strong preference for nurse-sampling among nurse-samplers underscores the need to offer both options to accommodate individual preferences and support a person-centred screening approach.
Lessons Learnt
HPV self-sampling demonstrates high acceptability with minimal negative experiences amongst participants. However, the strong preference for nurse-sampling method amongst those who received nurse-sampling highlights the importance of offering both sampling methods. This dual approach accommodates individual preferences and supports person-centered screening delivery.
Keywords
HPV DNA self-sampling, satisfactory, experience
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National Healthcare Group |
Organization(s) Involved | National Healthcare Group Polyclinics |
Platform(s) | Singapore Health Biomedical Congress |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Nursing |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Oncology |
Project Lead(s) | Quek Imm Pin, Ng Xin Rong, Sabrina Wong Kay Wye |
Project Member(s) | NA |
Connect with this contributor!
Quek Imm Pin - imm.pin.quek@nhghealth.com.sg