Doubt on HPV self-collection lingering among GPs
A survey finds many doctors are still clamouring for information on the cervical screening program
More than one third of GPs are yet to be convinced that self-collection is a good idea for HPV screening, a survey suggests.
Bolstered by evidence that self-collection is equivalent to doctor-collected samples, the federal Department of Health is currently canvassing a proposal to offer it to all women participating in the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP).
But a survey of 607 doctors conducted by a University of Sydney team suggests lingering doubts.
It found 36% of GPs do not consider self-collection a ‘reasonable alternative’ to a clinician-collected sample.
