Clinical Research Directory

Single Visit Clinical Validation of ScreenFire, a Low-Cost HPV Test: Efficacy and Cost Effectiveness (Phase 2)

In high-income countries, prevention strategies have led to declines in cervical cancer rates by more than 75% in high-income countries. In contrast, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) carry the global burden of cervical cancer with about 85% of new cases and 90% mortality. Screening is an essential component of effective prevention to reduce this disease burden. The World Health Organization recommends human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the most effective screening method. However, HPV testing can be expensive and complex to implement. Most tests require central laboratory processing, which means women must come back for a different visit to obtain results and potential treatment. In LMICs, this often results in high loss to follow up because many women face transportation and other challenges. The development of new, low-cost HPV tests that can be processed locally as the potential to improve adherence in screening programs. In this study, the research team will assess the feasibility of a same-day screen-and-treat approach compared to the standard two-visit regime in the context of the cervical cancer prevention program in El Salvador. This will be a cross-sectional study that will enroll 1,000 women in remote areas of the country over 10-15 weeks. The hypothesis is that at least 10% fewer women lost to follow-up at six months using the single visit approach compared to the \>20% historical loss to follow-up using the standard two-visit approach.

Personalized Risk-based Follow-up of Cervical Cancer Screening in Practice, RCT

The goal of this PREDICT is to assess a personalize approach to screening and management of cervical cancer testing. The investigators will evaluate patients who are due for a follow up cervical cancer screening in the primary care clinics in the Massachusetts General Brigham system. Patients will be randomized by clinic into three different arms (Arm 1: standard care, Arm 2: visit based reminders, Arm 3: visit based reminders and population health outreach)

A Mobile Web App Intervention to Promote Cervical Cancer Screening

The overarching goal of this study is to increase cervical cancer (CC) screening rates among Indigenous women in the U.S. Specifically, the study aims to develop and evaluate a culturally tailored, multilevel, multimedia mobile web app intervention (wPap) for women of the Yankton Sioux Tribe (YST) living on the YST Reservation in South Dakota. The wPap intervention will be tested in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) involving 120 YST women aged 25-65. Participants will be randomly assigned to either: (a) the wPap intervention group (n = 60), receiving personalized, culturally tailored multilevel multimedia messages through a mobile web app along with health navigator support, or (b) a waitlist control group (n = 60), receiving printed educational materials on cervical cancer and screening guidelines along with health navigator support. The intervention will last seven days, with assessments conducted at baseline, one week post-intervention, and six months post-intervention via surveys and telephone follow-up. The study tests the following hypotheses: (H1) women in the wPap intervention group will achieve higher CC screening rates than the waitlist control group; (H2) the wPap group will demonstrate greater improvements in knowledge, attitudes/beliefs, self-efficacy, and intention to undergo CC screening; and (H3) the wPap group will report higher satisfaction and acceptance of the intervention compared with the waitlist control group. Findings will inform the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of mobile web app interventions tailored to Indigenous communities to improve CC screening.

Community Gateway to Health Study

The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of a multi-level intervention on cancer prevention and social determinants of health outcomes. This partnership between academic and community-based researchers aims to link community health centers and communities in ways that maximize both civic engagement and participation in cancer control care. The system-level intervention consists of two components: (1) provision of community health center systems-level tools for cancer screening (breast, cervical, colorectal) and tobacco cessation treatment gaps; and (2) digital access screening and navigation. These interventions will be delivered via usual care.

Education and Health in Women With Cervical Cancer

Introduction: Cervical neoplasms constitute a significant public health problem on a global scale. According to the National Cancer Institute, this pathology is the third most prevalent type of cancer among women in Brazil, and the second most incident neoplasm in the North and Northeast regions. Estimates for each year of the 2023-2025 triennium point to approximately 17,010 new cases, with a gross incidence rate of 15.38 cases per 100,000 women. Health education emerges as a fundamental strategy in promoting healthy behaviors and building critical awareness of the health-disease process, considering individual and collective particularities. Objective: To evaluate the effect of health education on the level of quality of life, physical activity, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, nutrition, and pain in women with cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial with cervical cancer patients. The sample will be randomly distributed into two groups: the Health Education Recommendations Group (HERG) and the Control Group (CG), which will remain under usual care. The intervention will last 12 weeks, during which the HERG will receive health education recommendations through face-to-face meetings and via social media. The variables in this study are the participants' sociodemographic and clinical profile, lifestyle, sedentary behavior, level of physical activity, nutrition, self-esteem, anxiety and depression, quality of life, and pain. The variables of interest will be evaluated at baseline, after 6 and 12 weeks through multivariate analysis, comparing the effects of group, time, and interaction of both. Analyses will be performed using SPSS version 24.0 software, with a significance level of 5%. Expected results: Lifestyle change in at least two addressed areas. The developed material contributes to the scientific literature through the creation of textbooks, articles, and by offering valuable insights into the effectiveness of health education strategies. Future research can expand this work, adapting it to other populations or contexts to maximize its impact.

Mail-in HPV Screening Program in NJ

The purpose of this study is to help people who have missed their regular cervical cancer screening. The investigators are evaluating whether mailing an HPV self-sampling kit to participant home makes it easier and more convenient for people to get screened for cervical cancer. This study will also help to understand if people find this process acceptable and whether it is an effective way to improve screening rates.

Emergency Department-based Cervical Cancer Screening Through Self-sampling

This project will compare the uptake of cervical cancer screening through ED HPV sampling among patients presenting to the ED.

The Effectiveness, Cost-effectiveness, and Budget Impact of Interventions to Improve the Delivery of Cervical Cancer Screening in Puerto Rico.

Cervical cancer incidence is increasing dramatically (2.5% per year) in Puerto Rico (PR), with increased occurrence of regional (1.7% per year) and distant (4.7% per year) stage cancer, which reflects a real increase and indicates missed screening opportunities. Unfortunately, 80% of cervical cancer cases diagnosed in PR occur among low-income women covered by Medicaid or Medicare, who also have a 70% greater likelihood of being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Cervical cancer screening uptake continues to decline in PR, particularly among low-income Medicaid enrollees, mainly seen by government clinics. Barriers to cervical cancer screening in PR are mainly due to personal (lack of transportation, obesity-related embarrassment) and environmental (repeated disaster events that hampered screening uptake and made recovery slow) factors. The absence of evidence on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of patient navigators has limited its adoption among government clinics in this US territory. Multicomponent interventions that can address common screening barriers and improve screening participation in clinic-based settings or avert the need for a clinical-based visit could help improve screening uptake and follow-up care. Our preliminary work suggests the feasibility and acceptability of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling in PR. We now propose a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study using a four-arm multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted within government OBGYN clinics in PR. We will assess the effectiveness of patient reminders plus patient navigation and HPV self-collection (individually and in combination) compared to patient reminders alone in increasing cervical cancer screening, timely colposcopy, and cervical precancer treatment (Aim 1). The secondary aim will evaluate key implementation outcomes, including patient and provider receptivity, reach, level of implementation and fidelity, and sustainment intentions. We will then develop an open-cohort micro-simulation model to evaluate the population impact, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of alternative strategies (Aim 2) to inform their potential applicability at delivery organization, community, and territory levels. This study will provide much-needed knowledge that is necessary to successfully facilitate the adoption and sustained integration of optimal strategies that will improve cervical cancer screening participation and reduce magnifying disparities in Puerto Rico.

Cancer Awareness Among Syrian Migrants

This study aims to develop and evaluate a theory-based educational intervention to improve cancer screening participation among Syrian migrants in Turkey. The study will also develop a Cancer Protection Motivation Scale (CPMS) to measure individuals' motivation toward cancer screening. Using a mixed-methods design, the study will explore barriers, beliefs, and behaviors related to breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening. The effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed using a pretest-posttest design. The findings are expected to support culturally appropriate strategies to improve cancer screening uptake among migrant populations.

Social Media-Based Education on Cancer Screening Awareness in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial investigates the impact of a social media-based educational program on women's knowledge, attitudes, and digital health literacy regarding breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings. The intervention is based on the Socio-Ecological Model and aims to improve awareness and screening participation. Participants in the intervention group receive daily educational content for 8 weeks via social media platforms (WhatsApp/Instagram), while the control group receives two standard online education sessions via Microsoft Teams app. The study includes 132 women aged 30 to 70 in Türkiye who have not previously participated in cancer screenings. The primary outcomes include changes in cancer knowledge, attitudes, and digital health literacy levels measured by validated scales.

HPV Testing as a Prevention of Cervical Dysplasia and Cancer Before Planned Subtotal Hysterectomy

Patients indicated for subtotal hysterectomy will be tested for High risk HPV and if the result is positive will undergo expert colposcopy and conisation if not indicated otherwise at the time of subtotal hysterectomy

Community Co-produced Action for Improved Access to Cervical Cancer Screening in Cameroon

Background - The burden of cervical cancer is unequally distributed globally, with over 90% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), mainly due to insufficient uptake of preventive measures such as screening. In 2020, the World Health Organization launched a global initiative for the worldwide elimination of cervical cancer as a public health issue, setting a target of 70% of women screened with a high-performance test. In Cameroon, this target is far from being reached, and rural communities are disproportionately affected by low uptake of screening services. Recently, a new cervical cancer screening program has launched in the Bafoussam Regional Hospital, in the capital of the Mifi Health District, as part of a larger research project. To develop a context-specific strategy improving access to screening for women living in rural areas of the district, the active participation of community members for the co-development and implementation of local strategies for cervical cancer screening may be key to improving population screening coverage. Objective - The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of community co-produced action (CCA) for the development and implementation of HPV-based cervical cancer screening strategies compared to a traditional hospital-based approach in rural areas of the Mifi Health District in Cameroon. Methods - Using a cluster-randomized study design, participatory workshops with community members will be led in 7 rural health areas assigned to the intervention arm, with the aim of codeveloping local strategies for HPV-based cervical cancer screening adapted to the setting. The co-produced strategies may include raising awareness among eligible women (aged 30-49 years, or 25-49 years if HIV-positive), as well as facilitating access to screening tests, results and follow-up. Women living in one of the 7 health areas assigned to the control arm will be invited by community health workers to undergo screening at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital. In both study arms, screened women will be included in the GENOVA study, a cervical cancer screening trial offering free-of- charge HPV testing followed by triage by visual inspection or genotyping for HPV-positive women, and free treatment according to triage results. CCA will be evaluated by assessing its effectiveness for screening uptake. Screening coverage among eligible women will be estimated during one year after implementation of screening strategies in both study arms, based on population statistics provided by the Mifi health district for each health area. Expected results - Developing context-sensitive solutions to cervical cancer screening through a community-based participatory approach in rural areas of the Mifi health district is expected to improve screening participation rate.

Addressing Stigma in Screening and Diagnostic Delay for Cervical Cancer

This study aims to 1) implement a culturally and contextually rooted innovative multifoci, social marketing intervention involving societal focused media campaign elements to break down the barriers and facilitate timely and appropriate screening practices for cervical cancer; 2) measure cervical cancer stigma from a culturally relevant theoretical and conceptual framework; and 3) assess the influence of stigma on hindering seeking the PAP test. Further, this is an international study that will bring together a multi-disciplinary investigatory team, community advocates and State health agencies to deliver a social marketing intervention in Southern California (the Inland Empire region specifically) and Trinidad and Tobago.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of the Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Questionnaire (CCSTQ) in Turkish Women

Cervical cancer remains an important public health issue affecting women's health. Cervical cancer screening plays a key role in reducing morbidity and mortality through early detection. Women's decisions to participate in screening are influenced not only by knowledge, but also by psychosocial factors such as social norms, perceived threat, perceived benefits and barriers, and self-efficacy. The Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Questionnaire (CCSTQ) is a multidimensional instrument designed to assess psychological and social determinants that may influence women's participation in cervical cancer screening. The aim of this study is to translate and culturally adapt the CCSTQ into Turkish and to evaluate its psychometric properties among Turkish women.

Using Artificial Intelligence-based ChatBot to Improve Women's Participation to Cervical Cancer Screening Programme

This project looks to improve the return rate of HPV self-sampling (HPVss) as well as the management of women HPVss positive.

Community Implementation of Urine HPV Test and Reflex DNA Methylation Test in Cervical Cancer Screening

Aims: The project aims to explore the acceptability and feasibility of a self-sampling, urine-based HPV test (INDICAID HPV Urine Test) in a community setting, and the effectiveness of DNA methylation test for triaging high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) positive women to colposcopy examination compared to the current standard triage methods of cytology and HPV16/18 genotyping. There are two main hypotheses: 1. Urine self-sampling for HPV testing is an acceptable cervical screening option for women in the community. 2. Combining urine HPV testing with DNA methylation will increase the detection rate of high-grade lesions without increasing the colposcopy referral rate. Target participants: Women between the ages of 26-65 and have a history of sexual activity, not have a history of total hysterectomy or cervical cancer, not currently pregnant, not currently under treatment of cervical dysplasia or cervical cancer. This is a prospective study and women who are willing to undergo urine self-sampling for HPV test will be recruited from various communities, such as Specialist out-patient clinics of Queen Mary Hospital (Hong Kong), public areas in Queen Mary Hospital (such as lobby of out-patient clinics and corridors), District Health Centres, the Family Planning Association (FPA) clinics, Anticancer Society, Christian Action, Non Government Organizations (NGO), private organizations, and online. A total of 8,620 women are needed to be recruited to the study: approximately 4,700 onsite and 4,000 online. Study procedures: Self-collected urine samples from study subjects recruited in various communities will be examined using the INDICAID HPV Urine Test. Women with positive urine HPV results will undergo further testing, including urine DNA methylation and co-testing (cytology and HPV genotyping). They will be triaged to colposcopy when test results show clinical indications. The acceptability and feasibility of the urine test will be assessed by calculating the self-sample uptake rate and analyzing participant-reported questionnaires. The detection rate of high-grade lesions and the colposcopy referral rate will be compared between DNA methylation testing and the current standard methods.

Effect of Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety During Pap Smear Testing

This randomized controlled pretest-posttest experimental study aims to evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR) on pain and anxiety levels experienced during Pap smear sampling. Although cervical cancer is largely preventable through regular screening, many women avoid Pap smear testing due to anxiety, fear of pain, and discomfort during gynecological examinations. Innovative, non-invasive interventions are needed to improve women's screening experiences and participation rates. The study will be conducted in a gynecology outpatient clinic with 60 women aged 18-65 years who meet the inclusion criteria and provide informed consent. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (VR headset during the procedure) or the control group (standard care). Women in the intervention group will watch a 360° relaxing nature video during the Pap smear procedure. Data will be collected using a Personal Information Form, the State Anxiety Inventory, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The findings may support integrating VR into clinical practice to enhance patient comfort during screening procedures.

Ameliorated Pap Tests and Cervical Cancer Screening Participation

The Pap test plays a crucial role in the early detection of cervical cancer. A pilot single-center randomized controlled trial applied the peak-end concept and added a non-painful step at the end of Pap smear screening, aimed to reduce recalled pain. However, there is still no multicenter study investigating the effect of the modified Pap test on cervical cancer screening participation. The present project is the first multicenter randomized controlled trial to expand the current scope of the peak-end theory into Pap tests and cervical cancer screening participation by adding a non-painful step at the end of Pap smear screening. Our multidisciplinary team (NTUH Pap Study Group) aims to provide innovative, feasible, and low-cost strategies for cervical cancer screening participation.

Compliance to Cervical Cancer Chemoradiation Guidelines: A Multicentric Implementation Audit and Resource Assessment Initiative of National Cancer Grid of India

This is a combination of retrospective and prospective observational study that will be performed across NCG and other participating centers to report compliance to chemoradiation for cervical cancer. This audit will include patients treated with standard of care treatment, in this case definitive or adjuvant radiation+/- concurrent chemotherapy will be included. Patients recruited in various institutions in prospective clinical trials will not be included. The participating centersthat agree to contribute data will include all registered cases over a 6-month period that have been diagnosed with cervical cancer wherein treatment is planned with radical dose radiation and/or concurrent chemotherapy. Centers that do not have retrospective data of the patients will contribute data of patients registered prospectively over 6 months. Furthermore, any cases referred to the institution for brachytherapy alone will also be included. As a first step member institutions that participated in guideline development process or provide an agreement to guidelines adherence will be audited. The project will be submitted in institutional ethics committees with memorandum of understanding for anonymized data sharing. Each of the co-investigators listed from contributing centers will be directly responsible for collecting data contribution and accuracy of data submitted. Those centres which cannot or do not want to participate will be requested to provide data on only compliance outcomes to treatment for at least of 5 consecutively patients diagnosed with cervical cancer wherein treatment is planned with radical dose radiation and /or concurrent chemotherapy over a period of 6 months.

Evaluation of the Q-Pad hrHPV Test System for Identifying Precancer

The EQUIP Study is testing whether high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), the virus that causes most cervical cancers, can be accurately detected from menstrual blood collected at home. People who have been referred for colposcopy after an abnormal Pap or hrHPV test will use the Q-Pad Kit during their period to collect menstrual samples on a special menstrual pad and mail them to a central laboratory for hrHPV testing. The same participants will have a standard cervical sample collected for routine hrHPV testing and will undergo colposcopy as part of their usual care. By comparing hrHPV results from menstrual samples with results from cervical samples and biopsy findings, the study will evaluate how well the Q-Pad hrHPV Test System detects cervical precancer and will also assess how easy and acceptable it is for participants to use this at-home collection method.

Accelerating Adoption of Patient-centered Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Linkage in Kenya

This study aims to test the use of a multi-component care strategy (DADA LINK) designed to improve cervical cancer screening and linkage to treatment. The duration of the trial is 12 months, with a 6-month follow-up period to evaluate intervention costs and measure maintenance of the care strategies. Study staff at each clinic will abstract data on cervical cancer screening and triage/treatment. Clinics randomized to the intervention arm will have care coordinators who motivate clinic staff to adhere to cervical cancer care guidelines, conduct patient exit surveys to assess intervention fidelity, and support care coordination through use of the mHealth platform (WEMA).

Breast Cancer-Related Approach for Increasing Cervical Cancer Screening

The primary objective of this clinical trial is to assess cervical cancer screening participation among under-screened women invited through organized breast cancer screening programs in Switzerland. This randomized trial will compare three arms: 1. Intervention group 1: Sensitization to Cervical Cancer (CC) screening Women will receive an awareness letter explaining the importance of cervical cancer screening, the Swiss recommendations and an invitation to schedule an appointment. 2. Intervention group 2: Home-based Human papillomavirus infection (HPV) self-sampling Women will receive a free-of-charge vaginal self-sampling kit for HPV infection 3. Observational control group Women selected in the control arm will only be recruited one year following the screening of those in the intervention arm (T0+1), as to not influence Cervical Cancer Screening (CCS) behavior during this period by being reminded of screening recommendations.

My Self-Sampling for HPV Awareness, Results, and Empowerment

The overall objective of this study is to conduct formative research and pilot test the provider-level and patient-level components of the My Self-Sampling for HPV Awareness, Results, and Empowerment (MySHARE+) intervention. MySHARE+ aims to harness the power of technology and apply a multilevel approach to promote the adoption of cervical cancer screening (HPV self-sampling; Pap triage adherence) among under/never-screened women living with HIV (WLH). The specific aims are to 1) identify facilitators and barriers to implementing a healthcare provider prompt in a primary care setting and 2) conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a mHealth educational intervention in promoting cervical cancer awareness and HPV self-sampling among WLH. Under aim 1: Providers of healthcare and/or social services to WLH will complete an online survey to identify barriers to implementing a healthcare provider prompt in a primary care setting and participate in semi-structured interviews to provide feedback on drafted prompts. Prompts will be piloted at one local clinic to improve patient-provider communication about cervical cancer screening, followed with semi-structured interviews with providers involved. Under aim 2: Participants will be enrolled in a text messaging intervention and sent an HPV self-sampling test kit to return via mail. Participants in the intervention group will receive the full mHealth intervention while the control group will receive more generic text messages and reminders over the course of the study.

Human Papillomavirus Self-sampling for Enhancing Cervical Screening During the War in Ukraine

In 2020, a cervical screening center was established in Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine), initiating a pilot project to evaluate the prevalence of HPV among women in Eastern Ukraine. The findings were intended to lay the groundwork for the Ukrainian Ministry of Health in establishing a structured national screening program. However, all efforts were halted due to the nearby armed conflict, situated just 40 kilometers from the border. The World Health Organization's goal to eliminate cervical cancer globally has a gap when it comes to managing cancer control during crises like armed conflicts. We propose a demonstration project to assess whether a simpler, yet modern, cervical cancer control strategy (based on using self-sampling for HPV detection) could also be effective for cervical cancer screening in Zaporizhzhia. Women aged 30-60 years who have not had a recent negative HPV test will be invited to participate. Participants receive a self-sampling kit from their primary care provider and can return the sample free of charge to the clinic or community volunteers. All samples are analyzed in accredited laboratories in Zaporizhzhia. HPV-positive women will receive follow-up care according to national guidelines, including referral to gynecologists for additional tests and treatment if needed. HPV-negative women will be reassured and advised on future screening intervals. The study also evaluates how well the screening program can be implemented during conflict conditions. This includes measuring women's acceptance of self-sampling, the willingness of providers to adopt the procedures, and whether the screening process is feasible, practical, and sustainable. Additional process evaluation will explore how the program adapts to challenges such as migration, disrupted health services, and safety concerns. This project is conducted through collaboration between Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University, the Charitable Foundation "World Against Cancer," and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, which provides quality assurance support for laboratory procedures. The goal is to establish a safe, effective, and sustainable cervical cancer screening model that can be used in conflict-affected regions and similar settings. This work is supported by a grant from the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), as part of the Reimagining Cancer Research in Europe Initiative.