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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jcp.2005.031690v1 59/11/1218    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bulkmans, N W J Articles by Meijer, C J L M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bulkmans, N W J Articles by Meijer, C J L M Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Cervical Cancer

Implementation of human papillomavirus testing in cervical screening without a concomitant decrease in participation rate

¹ Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
² ScreeningsOrganisatie Bevolkingsonderzoek Baarmoederhalskanker Noord-Holland & Flevoland, GGD Amstelveen, Amstelveen, The Netherlands
³ Department of General Practice, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence to:
C J L M Meijer
Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands; cjlm.meijer{at}vumc.nl
ABSTRACT
Adding high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing to screening increases the efficacy of cervical screening programmes. However, hrHPV testing may result in a lower participation rate because of the perceived association with sexually transmitted infections. We describe how testing for hrHPV was added to cervical screening in the POpulation-BAsed SCreening study AMsterdam (POBASCAM) trial. Participation rates of the screening programme before and after hrHPV implementation were evaluated in the region where the POBASCAM trial was carried out. The participation rate was 58.7% before and 61.4% after the addition of hrHPV testing to screening (p<0.001). An inventory of frequently asked questions is presented. Thus, hrHPV testing can be added to cervical screening by cytology without a decrease in participation rate.

Abbreviations: hrHPV, high-risk human papillomavirus; POBASCAM, POpulation-BAsed SCreening study AMsterdam