A Community Health Worker-Led Multicomponent Program to Promote Cervical Cancer Screening in South Asian Women: A Cluster RCT

Introduction: South Asian women in Hong Kong have low cervical cancer screening uptake because of multiple barriers to utilizing health resources. Interventions that effectively modify the cancer screening behaviors of this population are warranted. This study evaluates the effects of a community health worker & minus;led multicomponent intervention on improving cervical cancer screening uptake among South Asian women in Hong Kong. Study Design: This study was an assessor-blind, cluster RCT that included a waitlist control group. Setting/participants: Recruitment of eligible subjects took place in 6 nongovernmental organizations; these organizations were randomized into intervention and control groups with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Intervention: Participants in the intervention group received a 3-month multicomponent intervention comprising health education, monthly telephone follow-ups, and navigation assistance. Main outcome measures: Participants' cervical cancer screening utilization and beliefs were assessed at baseline, after intervention, and 3 months after intervention. A longitudinal outcome comparison between the 2 groups was performed with generalized estimating equation analysis. Data were collected between September 2018 and January 2020 and were analyzed in 2019 & minus;2020. Results: A total of 387 participants completed the intervention. A significantly higher cervical cancer screening uptake was observed among participants in the intervention group (97.9%, 191 of 195) than among participants in the control group (52.6%, 101 of 192) at 3 months after intervention (p=0.005). Significantly greater decrements in perceived barriers to cervical cancer screening were found in the intervention group after intervention (-0.68, 95% CI= -1.35, -0.01, p=0.047) and 3 months after intervention (-0.86, 95% CI= -1.69, -0.04, p=0.041). Conclusions: A community health worker & minus;led multicomponent intervention is effective in promoting cervical cancer screening uptake and in reducing barriers to cancer screening utilization among South Asian women in Hong Kong. Combining a community health worker & minus;led intervention with multiple intervention components could be an effective strategy for developing interventions to increase cervical cancer screening in underserved populations. Trial registration: This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www. chictr.org.cn) ChiCTR1800017227 on July 18, 2018. Am J Prev Med 2021;61(1):136 & minus;145. (c) 2021 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. <comment>Superscript/Subscript Available</comment