Effect of Fee on Attendance in Cervical Cancer Screening

Effect of Fee on Attendance in Cervical Cancer Screening-results From ScreenFee a Swedish Population Based Randomised Trial

Several reasons can explain non-attendance in cervical cancer screening. In low resource settings the attendance is even lower. The effect of fee as contributing reason of non attendance has not been studied before why the investigators decided to study this in a low resource setting as a randomised trial.

Non-attendance in the cervical cancer screening programme is the most important factors why Swedish women contract the disease. Low attendance rate is observed in districts with low socioeconomic resources. Several reasons can explain this, including the existence of a fee. A low attendance rate in low resource districts is also noticed in Gothenburg, Sweden. After multiple interventions the coverage has slightly increased. None of the interventions included the aspect of the fee. The investigators decided to study the effect of fee abolishment in a randomized control trial emanating from the regular cervical cancer-screening program. Method: Randomized Control Trial (RCT). Women in low resource areas of Gothenburg, due for screening, January-July 2013, were randomised to receive an offer of a free test or receiving the regular invitation stating the regular fee of 100 Swedish kronor (SEK) (≈11 €). Power calculation has shown 80 % power to detect an increase in participation of 20% at 1972 participants.

All women in three districts in Gothenburg, Sweden, that were eligible for invitation in the regular screening program were individually randomized by computer program in two parallel arms 1:1.

Information from the database regarding study arm was linked, via citizen unique personal number, to the National Cervical Screening Quality Register. From this database aggregated information of attendance was extracted. The effect of the intervention on attendance was calculated as relative risks.

Before analysing the results of which kind of invitation the woman got, age group, previous pap smear history and district, all personal information was anonymized.

Inclusion Criteria: All women in the designated geographical area, consecutively enrolled in planned screening according to standard routine. I.e women are invited if they are between 23 and 60 years of age and don't have a pap smear registered the last three or five years according to age. Exclusion Criteria: None

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