Direct-mail HPV self-test kits boost screening rates and are cost-effective, study finds

New research published by JAMA Network Open finds that mailing human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling kits to patients is a cost-effective strategy for increasing cervical cancer screening completion rates. Long-term infection with high-risk HPV strains can cause abnormal cell growth, which could progress to cervical cancer. The study is the first to examine the cost-effectiveness of these mailing strategies across different patient screening histories within a U.S.-based health system.

"Mailed HPV self-sampling kits have been shown to increase screening rates, but there are limited data on the cost-effectiveness of this approach in the U.S.," said Dr. Rachel L. Winer, the study's lead author and an affiliate investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute. "Our findings provide a strong economic justification for health systems to implement mailed HPV self-sampling within their cervical cancer programs, especially since they can reach a wide range of patients."

Researchers looked at more than 31,000 female Kaiser Permanente Washington members aged 30-64 between November 2020 and July 2022. The evaluation assessed different patient groups based on their screening history: screening-adherent, overdue, and unknown history.

The study found that for screening-adherent members, directly mailing HPV kits was more effective and cost-saving than usual care. For members overdue for screening, directly mailing kits was also more effective than usual care and either cost-saving or associated with a minimal additional cost, depending on the scenario. 

About Kaiser Permanente:

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