SUCCEED Study: Interviews with People Eligible for Cervical Screening and Stakeholders About Communicating and Supporting Preference-Based Decision Making for Cervical Screening, 2023-2024

Motivation: Individuals aged 25-64 years are offered cervical screening via NHS screening programmes, however uptake is suboptimal. This population could soon be offered at-home self-sampling for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) as an alternative to in-clinic testing. It needs to be carefully planned to support equitable and person-centred participation. Aims: To identify optimal methods of communicating cervical screening programme changes, and to understand the needs of individuals with a cervix regarding a combined behaviour change and preference- based decision support tool when presented with a choice of cervical screening method. Approach: Qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews with 30 cervical screening eligible individuals purposively recruited for diversity and twenty-one interviews with stakeholders. Topics explored: topics raised in interviews included: For cervical screening-eligible participants: Attitudes to HPV self sampling and clinician sampling in cervical screening; communication preferences for introduction of HPV self-sampling and decision support needs for choice in screening method. With stakeholders: perceived decision needs of people in cervical screening; barriers to HPV self-sampling; system implications of HPV self-sampling; cultural sensitivities around cervical screening; optimisation of implementing interventions for choice in screening modality. Key findings: to be published, see here for updates: https://succeed1.yolasite.com/