FORMATIVE RESEARCH TO DESIGN CONTENT OF SMS MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO HPV+ WOMEN TO INCREASE THEIR ADHERENCE TO TRIAGE: THE ATICA STUDY.

VICTORIA SANCHEZ ANTELO; CUROTTO MARIANA; PAOLINO M; KOHLER, RACQUEL E.; VISWANATH, KASISOMAYAJULA; ARROSSI S

sYDNEY

Congreso; 32nd International Papillomavirus Conference; 2018

IPVS

Background and AimsEvidence shows that mHealth interventions using SMS messages areeffective to improve several health outcomes. But little information isavailable about using SMS messages to increase HPV+ women adherence tofollow-up. We describe results of formative research carried out to design SMSmessages to be sent to HPV+ women with self-collected tests to increase theiradherence to cytology triage. This research is part of the ATICA study(Application of Communication and Information Technologies for Self-Collection)carried out in Jujuy, Argentina, and funded by the NCI/NHI through a R01 grant.MethodsSix focus group discussions (FGD) were carried out with 48 women aged 30and over, who performed HPV self-collection offered by community health workersduring home visits in the last 12 months. We used different participatorytechniques that included brainstorming, card-sorting, and plenary discussionabout advantages and pitfalls of proposed messages.ResultsResearch showed that women highly valued receiving SMS as reminders to increasetriage. FGD participants also signaled the importance of SMS content tostrengthen their communication with health providers, that it has a formal butwarm tone, it does not include information on their HPV status, and protectstheir privacy, especially when phones are shared by family members.ConclusionsSMS as reminders have a great potential to increase adherence to triageby HPV+ women. However their content must be designed taking into accountwomen´s perspectives on privacy and confidentiality; they should also reinforcethe link between HPV+ women and the health system.