Barriers and Facilitators to Shared Decision-Making for HPV Self-Sampling in LMICs: A Thematic Analysis
Authors: Keenan Taryn 
Published: September 2024

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), contributing to the disproportionately high number of disability-adjusted life years in these regions.1,2 Shared decision-making (SDM) is a healthcare model that promotes patient-centered care by involving patients and family caregivers in collaborative treatment decision-making.3 Despite relatively high SDM awareness in high-income countries (HICs), seven studies have highlighted low awareness among healthcare professionals in LMICs, with cultural and operational barriers impeding its practice.4 The HPV-Automated Visual Evaluation (PAVE) Study is a multinational initiative focused on improving cervical cancer prevention in resource-constrained regions.5 This study aims to investigate stakeholders' understanding, views, and attitudes towards cervical cancer prevention and screening, and their preferences for receiving information and participating in decision-making.5 This will be achieved by analyzing the qualitative interviews with scientific experts and healthcare providers from the four participating sites (Brazil, El Salvador, Nigeria, and Tanzania).5 Thematic analysis is being applied to the interview transcripts to identify common themes and patterns, and enhance our understanding of stakeholder perspectives. Due to structural and cultural differences between HICs and LMICs, we expect that tailoring SDM to address specific barriers in LMICs will enhance its acceptance and utilization, leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction in cervical cancer prevention and treatment. If validated, the findings from the PAVE study may inform the widespread adoption and enhancement of cervical cancer prevention programs on a global scale.

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