The Isbaar Project

In a partnership between University of Washington, the University of Minnesota, M Health Fairview and People's Center Clinics and Services, this study will assess the implementation of an HPV self-sampling intervention in primary care that is culturally-tailored for Somali women and designed to increase cervical cancer screening participation. Primary care clinic-based HPV self-sampling could effectively increase cervical cancer screening rates in Somali women by positioning providers to address some key screening barriers, enabling clinics to opportunistically fit in HPV self-sampling in the clinical encounter, and providing an alternative modality for patients.

Study Aims:

1. Use focus groups and semi-structured interviews to assess the patient-, provider-, clinic- and system-level factors that may influence Somali women’s uptake of HPV self-sampling.
2. Implement an HPV self-sampling intervention for Somali women in three primary care clinics and compare changes in women’s screening uptake pre and post intervention with M-Health Fairview control clinics followed over the same time period.
3. Conduct semi-structured interviews to assess the barriers and facilitators to implementation of HPV self-sampling in primary care for Somali women, and use an implementation science approach to develop a model of implementation.

Timeframe:

• The study will be conducted in over 4 ½ years, from June 2021 – December 2025

Partners Involved:

• M Health Fairview Clinic - Smiley's, Minneapolis, MN
• People’s Center Clinics & Services, Minneapolis, MN
• Community-University Health Care Clinic, Minneapolis, MN