CFT Self-Help for Accessing Cervical Screening After Sexual Assault

Royal Holloway University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Sexual Violence; Trauma, Psychological; Cervical Cancer

Treatments: Other: Self-help

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04104724

JSmallwoodDClinPsy

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a new self-help intervention designed to support individuals (anyone with a cervix) to access cervical cancer screening following the experience of sexual assault, by addressing psychological barriers identified by previous research, specifically shame, low self-efficacy and the re-traumatising nature of attending to sexual health after sexual trauma.

Full description

The study aims to investigate the acceptability, feasibility and limited efficacy of a discrete, easily accessed (mobile phone, tablet or computer) self-help intervention to support people to access cervical screening independently.

The study will use a wait-list control design, with participants randomly allocated to receive access to the intervention immediately or after a six-week wait.

The intervention will be in the form of a web app and will contain a range of psychoeducational material and practice exercises following a cognitive-behavioural and compassion-focused approach to understanding and coping with trauma, building self-compassion and increasing confidence in ability to attend and complete a screening.

Enrollment: 96 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 25 to 64 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Has a cevix
• Within age range for cervical cancer screening in UK (25-64 years)
• Experience of sexual assault (in childhood and/or adulthood; not within last 12 months)
• Currently experiencing difficulty attending cervical cancer screening
• Has access to smartphone/computer with internet
• Has a valid email address
• Able to read and understand English
• Living in UK

Exclusion criteria

• No cervix
• Outside of UK cervical cancer screening age range
• No experience of sexual assault or sexual assault occurred within last 12 months
• No access to smartphone or computer and internet
• Unable to read or understand English
• Not living in UK
• In acute mental health crisis

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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96 participants in 2 patient groups

Self-help

Experimental group

Description:

Immediate access to self-help materials

Treatment:

Other: Self-help

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Wait-list control - treatment as usual (no intervention)