Self-sampling HPV test set to eliminate cervical cancer in Malaysia
January 14, 2019
The e-health component utilizes mobile technology and canSCREEN; a population health management platform that enables healthcare professionals to tract the progress of every woman screened through their lifetime.
Soon, more women will be willing to come forward for cervical cancer screening, a life saving decision which will enable the detection and treatment of the disease in its earliest stage.
'Removing Obstacles to cervical Screening' or better known as the R.O.S.E. project, is an innovation by University of Malaya (UM) and VCS Foundation (VCSF) of Australia. Instead of a pelvic examination by a healthcare professional, it integrates self-sampling, HPV testing and e-health technology. Professor Dr Woo Yin Ling, consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at UM (pix) who headed the pilot project disclosed that R.O.S.E. is driven by empathy for the screening experience of women. It embodies safety, privacy and dignity through self-sampling, encouraging more women to willingly participate in screening in a timely manner. "The HPV test is evidence-based and highly accurate, providing greater assurance to women and their families. The improved diagnostic accuracy allows for significantly less frequent testing over a woman's lifetime." "However, it is the e-health component that makes R.O.S.E. unique and powerful. It utilizes mobile technology and VCSF's canSCREEN; a population health management platform that enables healthcare professionals to tract the progress of every woman screened through their lifetime, regardless of where she was screened - be it a government or a private clinic." This provides a welcome safety net to ensure women are screened at recommended intervals and followed up accordingly. It also allows optimization of health resources by preventing duplication of services while establishing a powerful resource to monitor the progress towards eliminating cervical cancer as a nation. Earlier, Professor Woo highlighted that a multi-sectoral collaborative effort was established in 2018 to conduct the R.O.S.E. pilot project in five ministry of health clinics. The outcome showed that 99 per cent of 4,188 participants preferred the self-sampling method, suggesting that Malaysian women would generally find this new approach to screening more acceptable. Abnormal test results were detected in five per cent and three cases of cancer were diagnozed and had the appropriate follow-up. The mobile technology and e-health facilitated comprehensive follow through of the screening to treatment pathway in the women. |
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