Better cervical cancer screening and follow-up in Puerto Rico
The effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of interventions to improve the delivery of cervical cancer screening in Puerto Rico.
This project tries different approaches—like HPV self-sampling and patient navigators—to help more women in Puerto Rico get cervical cancer screening and timely follow-up.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Comprehensive Cancer Center/ Univ/pr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Juan, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184225 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited through community and government clinics across Puerto Rico to join a randomized, four-arm trial comparing ways to improve screening. The trial compares HPV self-sampling at home, patient navigators who help overcome barriers and schedule follow-up, combined multicomponent approaches, and usual clinic care. Researchers will track who completes screening and follow-up care, and will collect data on costs and the budget impact for clinics. Findings will be used to recommend practical, affordable programs for government clinics serving low-income women.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are women in Puerto Rico who are eligible for cervical cancer screening (roughly ages 21–65) who are overdue or under-screened, especially Medicaid or Medicare enrollees seen in government clinics.
Not a fit: People who are up-to-date with cervical screening, outside the eligible age range, or who have had a total hysterectomy for benign disease are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could increase timely screening and follow-up, lower late-stage cervical cancer diagnoses, and support affordable programs in Puerto Rico's clinics.
How similar studies have performed: HPV self-sampling and patient navigation have increased screening in other settings and early work in Puerto Rico shows self-sampling is acceptable, but full effectiveness and cost-effectiveness have not yet been demonstrated for this population.
Where this research is happening
San Juan, United States
- Comprehensive Cancer Center/ Univ/pr — San Juan, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ortiz, Ana Patricia — Comprehensive Cancer Center/ Univ/pr
- Study coordinator: Ortiz, Ana Patricia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.