Opportunities for cancer prevention at syringe services programs: acceptability of HPV self-sampling and vaccination among people who inject drugs
Abstract Introduction Despite having a high risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections, people who inject drugs (PWID) often do not receive recommended HPV screenings due to barriers to healthcare. Guideline-based cervical HPV screening and vaccination can prevent cervical cancer. Low-cost, l...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00982-3 |
| _version_ | 1797233674799808512 |
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| author | Samuel Hinkes Katrina Ciraldo Erin Kobetz Tyler S. Bartholomew Sarah Rinehart Nicolette Siringo Rebecca Barnett Neha Godbole Frantzia Jeanty Morgan Frederick Hansel E. Tookes |
| author_facet | Samuel Hinkes Katrina Ciraldo Erin Kobetz Tyler S. Bartholomew Sarah Rinehart Nicolette Siringo Rebecca Barnett Neha Godbole Frantzia Jeanty Morgan Frederick Hansel E. Tookes |
| author_sort | Samuel Hinkes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Despite having a high risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections, people who inject drugs (PWID) often do not receive recommended HPV screenings due to barriers to healthcare. Guideline-based cervical HPV screening and vaccination can prevent cervical cancer. Low-cost, low-barrier methods for cancer screening and prevention are important for vulnerable communities such as PWID. Methods We examined acceptability of HPV self-sampling at a syringe services program (SSP). Participants with a cervix (n = 49) participated in patient education followed by a survey to assess willingness to perform HPV self-sampling versus standard of care. Results 59% found self-sampling to be acceptable, citing privacy, ease, and quickness. Among those opting for HPV screening delivered by a provider (n = 16), participants cited concerns about adequate sampling (81%) and test accuracy (75%). Notably, only 18% of participants reported complete HPV vaccination. Conclusion Cervical HPV self-sampling was acceptable to PWID. SSP-based efforts to provide preventative health services could place tools for cancer screening into the hands of PWID, a need-to-reach community. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:19:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f2303d0fd0543249c260a05e8d6f0d4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:19:56Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f2303d0fd0543249c260a05e8d6f0d42024-03-31T11:14:19ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172024-03-012111610.1186/s12954-024-00982-3Opportunities for cancer prevention at syringe services programs: acceptability of HPV self-sampling and vaccination among people who inject drugsSamuel Hinkes0Katrina Ciraldo1Erin Kobetz2Tyler S. Bartholomew3Sarah Rinehart4Nicolette Siringo5Rebecca Barnett6Neha Godbole7Frantzia Jeanty8Morgan Frederick9Hansel E. Tookes10Department of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineAbstract Introduction Despite having a high risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections, people who inject drugs (PWID) often do not receive recommended HPV screenings due to barriers to healthcare. Guideline-based cervical HPV screening and vaccination can prevent cervical cancer. Low-cost, low-barrier methods for cancer screening and prevention are important for vulnerable communities such as PWID. Methods We examined acceptability of HPV self-sampling at a syringe services program (SSP). Participants with a cervix (n = 49) participated in patient education followed by a survey to assess willingness to perform HPV self-sampling versus standard of care. Results 59% found self-sampling to be acceptable, citing privacy, ease, and quickness. Among those opting for HPV screening delivered by a provider (n = 16), participants cited concerns about adequate sampling (81%) and test accuracy (75%). Notably, only 18% of participants reported complete HPV vaccination. Conclusion Cervical HPV self-sampling was acceptable to PWID. SSP-based efforts to provide preventative health services could place tools for cancer screening into the hands of PWID, a need-to-reach community.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00982-3People who inject drugsHuman papillomavirusSelf-samplingHPV vaccinationCancer preventionSyringe services programs |
| spellingShingle | Samuel Hinkes Katrina Ciraldo Erin Kobetz Tyler S. Bartholomew Sarah Rinehart Nicolette Siringo Rebecca Barnett Neha Godbole Frantzia Jeanty Morgan Frederick Hansel E. Tookes Opportunities for cancer prevention at syringe services programs: acceptability of HPV self-sampling and vaccination among people who inject drugs Harm Reduction Journal People who inject drugs Human papillomavirus Self-sampling HPV vaccination Cancer prevention Syringe services programs |
| title | Opportunities for cancer prevention at syringe services programs: acceptability of HPV self-sampling and vaccination among people who inject drugs |
| title_full | Opportunities for cancer prevention at syringe services programs: acceptability of HPV self-sampling and vaccination among people who inject drugs |
| title_fullStr | Opportunities for cancer prevention at syringe services programs: acceptability of HPV self-sampling and vaccination among people who inject drugs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Opportunities for cancer prevention at syringe services programs: acceptability of HPV self-sampling and vaccination among people who inject drugs |
| title_short | Opportunities for cancer prevention at syringe services programs: acceptability of HPV self-sampling and vaccination among people who inject drugs |
| title_sort | opportunities for cancer prevention at syringe services programs acceptability of hpv self sampling and vaccination among people who inject drugs |
| topic | People who inject drugs Human papillomavirus Self-sampling HPV vaccination Cancer prevention Syringe services programs |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00982-3 |
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