Research Revisited: The You Screen Study

Research Revisited: YouScreen

In 2021 the largest self-sampling cervical screening clinical trial was launched in London.

The YouScreen trial aimed to increase screening uptake by addressing the barriers to attending screening appointments.

As part of the trial, people were given self-sampling kits and the ability to collect their own samples at home, at a time and place which worked for them.

The success of the trial has informed the recent government decision to rollout self sampling kits for people who do not attend regular screening, which could result in 400,000 more screenings a year.

Research Revisited

The application for the YouScreen trial was reviewed by South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee (REC) and the Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG), and approved in 2020.

As part of our new series of ‘Research Revisited’ events you're invited to join the team behind the study as we talk about the how the REC and CAG review process had on the success of the trial.

We'll be joined by Dr Anita Lim (academic researcher) and Dr Paula McGee (former Chair of South Birmingham REC).

Anita will talk about the background to the study and the challenges the team faced in getting the trial off the ground.

Paula and Anita then will reflect on the questions raised by the REC and CAG during review, revisiting key moments in the ethical review process and how this helped shape a successful trial.

Finally, Anita will share the impact the study has had and implications for cervical cancer care moving forward.

This session is an opportunity to hear more about a groundbreaking trial reviewed by our REC and CAG communities, and the role they play in shaping and supporting meaningful research.

This event is the first in a series of events where we will revisit studies which were reviewed by REC and CAG to see the real world impact of the research and how the questions raised during the review process directly impacted on the research and its outcome.

About cervical cancer

More than 3,000 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK every year.

Regular cervical screening can identify early signs of cancer causing cells, but uptake has fallen in recent years, with the most recent data showing that fewer than 70% of women in England attend their screening appointment.

Embarrassment, fear, and a dislike of vaginal examinations are the most common reasons given for avoiding appointments.