Research on an HPV home test receives an award

”it is a huge recognition showing that I have been able to communicate my research in an understandable way and that my research is relevant”, says Mette Tranberg.

21-09-2018

At the recent Danish Cancer Research Days, Mette Tranberg presented her research on an HPV home test, which makes more women participate in the screening programme for cervical cancer.

 

Mette Tranberg received an award for her convincing presentation from the organisers – Danish Comprehensive Cancer Center (DCCC) and Danish Multidisciplinary Cancer Groups (DMCG.dk)

One in three women choose not to participate in the Danish national screening programme for cervical cancer, and half of the new cases of cervical cancer are in women who have not participated regularly in the screening programme. The offer to be able to do an HPV home test can probably change this.

This is the conclusion of Mette Tranberg’s PhD project in gynaecological cancer, which she presented at Denmark’s larges cancer conference, Danish Cancer Research Days, organised by Danish Comprehensive Cancer Center (DCCC) and Danish Multidisciplinary Cancer Groups (DMCG.dk).

Highly relevant research

Together with 133 other researchers, Mette Tranberg participated in a competition for two poster awards at the conference. A unanimous review committee appointed Mette Tranberg from Department of Public Health Programmes, at Randers Regional Hospital, Central Denmark Region as one of the winners.

”The committee has focused on the posters being understandable, relevant and considered if they included patients, preferably at a national level”, says Mef Christina Nilbert, member of the review committee and head of research in Danish Cancer Society.

She calls the research by Mette Tranberg new, exciting and highly relevant. Mette Tranberg is happy that her work for the past three years has been noticed.

”It means a lot to me to win this award. I am really honoured, happy and proud. It inspires me to go back home and continue my work. I have learned a lot, especially how to be even better at presenting my research”, says Mette Tranberg. In addition to the award, she has received DKK 5,000 to be spent on research.

More women participate at home

The purpose of Mette Tranberg’s research was to explore if it would be possible to increase participation in the national screening programme by offering the home test to women between 30 and 64 years who had been invited and received the first reminder but declined participation in the screening programme.

”The gynaecological examination and practical issues at the general practitioner are known barriers to participation. Moreover, socioeconomically disadvantaged women participate less often in screening for cervical cancer that socioeconomically advantaged women”, says Mette Tranberg.

The project has shown that the total participation in screening among invited women can be increased from 68% and up to 74% if the home test kit is sent directly to the women along with the second reminder. The effect is particularly high among women who rarely participate in the screening programme. 

”By giving women the possibility to take a screening test in their own home, we believe that we can improve the long-term prevention of cervical cancer”, says Mette Tranberg.

These research results have contributed to the new guidelines by the Danish Health Authority now recommending that all Danish regions should consider offering an HPV home test in connection with sending out the second reminder to participate in the national screening programme for cervical cancer.