Eva Gezels
Doctoral fellow – Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UGent
Project coordinator of the ESSAG-project
Midwife and health promotor
Principal investigator: prof. Sara Willems (PhD)
Research focus
The ESSAG-trial (2021-2025) focuses on enhancing cervical cancer (CC) screening participation in Flanders, Belgium, where current coverage is suboptimal at 63%. Funded by Kom Op Tegen Kanker, this study aims to address the gap in screening among women aged 31-64 years who haven't been screened in the last six years.
In the current screening program, women not screened within three years receive an invitation letter from the Centre for Cancer Detection, urging them to get a Pap smear. Despite these efforts, participation remains low. Our research tests the efficacy of offering a self-sampling kit (SSK) for HPV testing, facilitated by general practitioners (GPs), as a strategy to boost screening rates.
The ESSAG-trial is a cluster-randomized controlled trial with three arms, each comprising 1125 women. In Arm A, GPs offer an SSK during any consultation with eligible women. In Arm B, women receive a GP-signed invitation letter, including an SSK, sent to their home. The control arm continues with the standard invitation letter. The primary outcome is the response rate at three months post-inclusion, while secondary outcomes include screen test positivity, compliance with follow-up among screen-positives, and cost analysis per invited and screened woman.
This research is crucial as it explores practical, GP-based interventions to reach underscreened populations, potentially increasing early detection of cervical cancer. By providing insights into effective screening strategies, our findings will help inform policymakers and may lead to region-wide implementation, contributing broadly to multidisciplinary cancer research and public health improvement.
Contact & links
- Lab address: Campus UZ Gent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium (6K3)
- Unit Equity
- Eva Gezels is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks