# Factors Associated with Mailed Return of Self-Sampling for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing

> **NIH NIH F31** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2021 · $2,500

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Cervical cancer disproportionately affects women who are low-income and never/underscreened (never
screened or under screened). Women who are low-income have structural and intrapersonal barriers to
screening that may prevent them from obtaining provider-based screening. Although HPV testing is now
accepted by USPSTF guidelines, it is only endorsed for provider-collected sampling. Self-sampling for HPV
testing, a method for women to collect their own cervico-vaginal sample, is a feasible and acceptable
alternative to provider-based cervical cancer screening. HPV self-sampling is likely to be implemented as a
screening option in the US in the future due to its comparable sensitivity to provider-collected HPV samples,
acceptability, and potential to reach populations who are never/underscreeners. Self-sampling may overcome
barriers to provider-based cervical cancer screening experienced by women who are low-income and
never/underscreened and provide a convenient way to access screening. Studies testing mailed HPV kits,
however, have demonstrated that 30-50% of women do not return a mailed HPV kit. Prior to widespread
implementation, research is needed to identify characteristics of returners and non-returners of mailed HPV
self-sampling kits. The purpose of this descriptive study is to identify factors associated with mailed return of
HPV self-sampling kits using concepts from the Diffusion of Innovations Theory (advantages, compatibility,
complexity, and self-efficacy) while controlling for sociodemographic, healthcare, and health behavior variables
in a group of low-income and never/underscreened women.
Data for this cross-sectional study will be collected at time of study consent from women (n=200) at a food
pantry. Self-sampling kits will be mailed to the women’s home within one week of consent, and women will
have 4 weeks to return the kit to be considered “returners”. The relationship between the data collected at
baseline consent (attributes of innovation-advantages, compatibility, complexity, and self-efficacy) and return of
the self-sampling kit via mail (y/n) will be analyzed.
The results of this study will provide knowledge about factors associated with return of self-sampling kits to
better understand the characteristics of returners and non-returners. Results of this project will help guide
implementation of HPV self-sampling in populations who are low-income and never/underscreened whom self-
sampling may most likely benefit. This study will provide a foundation for the applicant’s long-term goal of
reducing morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer through increasing cervical cancer screening rates with
an innovative technology, self-sampling for HPV testing. In addition, this application reflects a request for the
Administrative Supplement for Childcare Costs for NRSA Individual Fellows NOT-ON-21-070.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10387372
- **Project number:** 3F31NR018791-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Erika Biederman
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2,500
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10387372

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10387372, Factors Associated with Mailed Return of Self-Sampling for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing (3F31NR018791-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10387372. Licensed CC0.

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