Key Research in Cervical Screening

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme is based on sound research evidence. The following trials have been set up to address some of the issues around cervical screening:

• Cervical screening in lesbian and bisexual women: a literature review
• Attitudes of Black and Minority Ethnic Women
• A comparison of automated technology and manual cervical screening (MAVARIC)
• ARTISTIC trial
• TOMBOLA study

These research studies have already reported and evidence from them is being used to inform the programme:

• Benefit of cervical screening at different ages: evidence from the UK audit of screening histories (Sasieni et al 2003).
• The cervical cancer epidemic that screening has prevented in the UK (Peto et al 2004)

Cervical screening in lesbian and bisexual women: a literature review

This review has been commissioned by the NHS Cervical Screening Programme as part of its commitment to the delivery of actions to reduce inequalities set out in the Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS); specifically, 'promoting research to meet gaps in the evidence' about lesbian and bisexual women and cervical screening (CRS, 2007: 85). The review makes available current knowledge about transmission of the human papilloma virus (HPV); prevalence and risk factors; health behaviours; screening experiences and risk perceptions and contribute to the identification of good practice and of further actions to reduce health inequalities.

Cervical screening in lesbian and bisexual women: a review of the worldwide literature using systematic methods (PDF 786Kb)

Attitudes of Black and Minority Ethnic Women

This Populus poll on attitudes to cervical cancer was commissioned by the NHS Cancer Screening Programme in November 2008. The results revealed that women from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups were less sure of their cervical cancer risk than white women. For more information, please contact the press office on 0207 400 4499.

Poll: Attitudes of Black and Minority Ethnic Women - November 2008 (PDF 224Kb)

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A comparison of automated technology and manual cervical screening (MAVARIC)

Cervical screening by cytology has proved an effective means of reducing death rate from cervical cancer and the introduction of Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) will benefit both women and cytoscreeners.

The use of automated technology may bring further benefits by making identification of abnormal cells easier. Instead of scanning an entire slide the cytoscreeners will be directed to 15-22 locations on a slide by computerised software.

MAVARIC is a randomised controlled trial set up in August 2005 to compare two automated cervical screening technologies with manual screening. Samples from women undergoing primary cervical screening will be randomly allocated to reading by manual screening alone or by one of two automated technologies backed up by manual screening.

The trial is expected to end in 2009 with results being published in 2011.