Home-based Self-sampling for Cervical Cancer Prevention Education Intervention in Ghana (HOPE-inG)

The Impact of an Evidence-Based, Behavioral Cervical Cancer Screening Intervention Among Women Living with HIV in Ghana (HOPE-inG): a Type 2 Hybrid Effectiveness Implementation Trial

The investigators propose to develop and/or adapt implementation strategies and a structured implementation plan to translate the HOPE intervention into existing healthcare practice in Ghana.

These "implementation support strategies (ISS)" are implementation strategies relevant to implementation support, which is concerned with moving (implementation) research into (implementation) practice.

The ultimate goal is to facilitate health system adoption and sustainment.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: HIV; Cervical Cancer Screening; Implementation Science; Self-sampling; Implementation Strategies; Intervention (Training) Condition
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Health providers and management at IG sites will receive ISS (i.e., management support, capacity-building, and social network support) and training on the HOPE implementation plan; Behavioral: Control Group

Detailed Description

Over 69,000 women living with HIV, (WLWH) in Ghana have a six-fold increased risk of developing cervical cancer and require early and frequent cervical cancer screening (CCS). However, available data in Ghana show that the CCS rate among eligible women is as low as 2.7%, and there is no evidence that WLWH screen at higher rates. In response to the need to increase the uptake of CCS among WLWH, the investigators developed a Home-based self-sampling for cervical cancer Prevention Education (HOPE) intervention. HOPE consists of HPV self-sampling combined with a 3R (Reframing, Reprioritizing, and Reforming) communication model for promoting CCS. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Ghana, the investigators demonstrated that HOPE significantly increased CCS among WLWH (100%) vs routine clinic-based screening (14.64%). Participating women found the self-sampling and 3R communication model acceptable and culturally appropriate. High-impact implementation strategies are needed to integrate and scale up HPV self-sampling into women's healthcare in Ghana. The investigators propose to develop and/or adapt implementation strategies to maximize the success of the HOPE intervention in increasing its health system adoption, patient uptake, and the sustainment of CCS among WLWH. The investigators' proposed hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation RCT trial will leverage existing relationships with secondary-level health facilities in Ghana. The investigators will select four secondary-level health facilities with comparable infrastructure and WLWH patient enrollment. Using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) framework, the investigators will address the following specific aims.

Aim 1: To develop a culturally appropriate, evidence-based health system implementation plan and provider training content for successful HOPE implementation (Preparation phase). Through nominal group techniques (NGTs), the investigators will support engaged stakeholders in selecting, prioritizing, and adapting culturally appropriate implementation support strategies (ISS) for HOPE. Through NGTs, the investigators will modify HOPE and adopt HOPE 2.0

Aim 2: Assess the effectiveness of the HOPE 2.0 intervention and the success of the implementation plan in a hybrid type 2 trial (Implementation phase). The investigators will conduct a hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation RCT to evaluate the impact of implementation strategies. Four HIV secondary-level clinics will be cluster-randomized 1:1 in a two-arm RCT. Healthcare providers in the intervention group (IG, Arm 1) will receive evidence-based training validated in Aim 1. After training, trained providers will recruit WLWH (n = 576) from their HIV facilities and implement HOPE. Providers in the control group (CG, Arm 2) who will not be trained with our ISS materials will recruit WLWH (n = 576) and implement HOPE in their clinics.

Aim 3: Assess the impact of the implementation plan on the sustainment of the HOPE intervention at study sites (Sustainment phase). The investigators will assess the impact of HOPE on WLWH screening behaviors and the impact of strategy material on providers' self-efficacy for implementing HOPE across the study arms.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 1500
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, PhD; Phone Number: 233+244-527387; Email: dobiri-yeboah@ucc.edu.gh
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Matthew Asare, PhD; Phone Number: 5136416482; Email: Matt_asare@baylor.edu

Study Locations

• Ghana
  • Central Region
    • Capte Coast, Central Region, Ghana
      • University of Cape Coast
      • Contact: Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, PhD; Phone Number: +233244-527387; Email: dobiri-yeboah@ucc.edu.gh

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

General criteria

• ability to give consent per Institutional Review Board stipulations
• residing in the Central Region
• having no medical characteristics that would interfere with the ability to participate fully

• the willingness to participate in this study.

  (a) Healthcare provider eligibility: Inclusion criteria include an individual (no gender restrictions) who

• possesses healthcare qualifications (i.e., patient navigators, physicians, nurses, health facility management),
• works at the HIV health facility at study sites,
• is ≥18 years old. (b) Eligibility for women living with HIV (Patients)
• identified female at birth) who
• are living with HIV between 25 and 65 years old (age consistent with WHO CC screening guidelines)
• have never had CC screening (Pap or HPV test),
• have not had a screening for the past 5 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women will be excluded if they are pregnant or have had a hysterectomy.
• WLWH who have a cervix are the main target population to develop the HOPE toolkit.
• Women who are below 25 and those who are above 65 years will be excluded.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group; Health providers and management at IG sites will receive ISS (i.e., management support, capacity-building, and social network support) and training on the HOPE implementation plan	Behavioral: Health providers and management at IG sites will receive ISS (i.e., management support, capacity-building, and social network support) and training on the HOPE implementation plan; Health providers and management at IG sites will receive ISS (i.e., management support, capacity-building, and social network support) and training on the HOPE implementation plan; Behavioral: Control Group; Providers in the control group will not receive ISS support
No Intervention: Control Group; Providers and management in the control group will not receive any ISS or implementation plan training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Implementation Outcome 1A: HOPE 2.0 Program Adoption	The first primary outcome of interest is program adoption, defined as the decision of healthcare management and provider's willingness to use HOPE 2.0 (consisting of self-sampling, 3R model, and patient navigators) and ISS materials in the facilities. Adoption will be measured at at 1, 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24 months post-randomization using a Log sheet.	24 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 1B: HOPE 2.0 Program Adoption	The first primary outcome of interest is program adoption, defined as the decision of healthcare management and provider's willingness to use HOPE 2.0 (consisting of self-sampling, 3R model, and patient navigators) and ISS materials in the facilities. Adoption will be measured at at 1, 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24 months post-randomization using semi-structured interviews.	24 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 1C: HOPE 2.0 Program Adoption	The first primary outcome of interest is implementation outcomes of adoption in providers defined as the decision of providers willingness to use HOPE 2.0 (consisting of self-sampling, 3R model, and patient navigators) and ISS materials in the facilities. Adoption will be measured 1, 3, 6- 12- and 24 months post-randomization using Likert Scale surveys.	24 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 1D: HOPE 2.0 Program Adoption	The first primary outcome of interest is implementation outcomes of adoption in patients, defined as the decision of patients' willingness to use HOPE 2.0 (consisting of self-sampling, 3R model, and patient navigators) and ISS materials in the facilities. Adoption will be measured 1, 3, 6- 12- and 24 months post-randomization. At the patient level, adoption will be measured using a 6 item scale.	24 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 2A: HOPE 2.0 Implementation cost	The second primary outcome of interest is implementation cost, defined as the total expenses for implementing HOPE 2.0. Cost will be assessed at the health facility and patient levels at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-randomization. At both levels, implementation costs will be measured using a cost-tracking database.	24 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 2B: HOPE 2.0 Implementation cost	The second primary outcome of interest is implementation cost, defined as the total expenses for implementing HOPE 2.0. Cost will be assessed at the patient levels at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-randomization using an outpatient cost survey	24 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 3A: Fidelity of Implementing HOPE 2.0	The third primary outcome of interest is Fidelity, defined as the degree to which HOPE 2.0/ISS is implemented as planned in the facilities. Fidelity outcome will be measured at the management level using process evaluation checklists throughout the intervention period.	During 24 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 3B: Fidelity of Implementing HOPE 2.0	The third primary outcome of interest is Fidelity, defined as the degree to which HOPE 2.0/ISS is implemented as planned in the facilities. Fidelity outcome will be measured at management and provider levels using observations throughout the intervention period.	During 24 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 3C: Fidelity of Implementing HOPE 2.0	The third primary outcome of interest is Fidelity, defined as the degree to which HOPE 2.0/ISS is implemented as planned in the facilities. Fidelity outcome will be measured at management and provider levels through regular review of log sheets.	During 24 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 3D: Fidelity of Implementing HOPE 2.0	The third primary outcome of interest is Fidelity, defined as the degree to which HOPE 2.0/ISS is implemented as planned in the facilities. Fidelity outcome will be measured the provider level using a 7 item survey.	During 24 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 4A: HOPE 2.0 Program Penetration in the clinics	The fourth primary outcome of interest is Program Penetration, defined as integrating HOPE 2.0/ISS within the clinic facilities. We will assess penetration at management and provider levels using activity log sheets at 1 and 6 months post-randomization.	6 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 4B: HOPE 2.0 Program Penetration in the clinics	The fourth primary outcome of interest is Program Penetration, defined as integrating HOPE 2.0/ISS within the clinic facilities. We will assess penetration outcomes at management and provider levels using interviews at 1 and 6 months post-randomization.	6 months post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 5A: HOPE 2.0 Sustainment in the facilities	The final implementation outcome of interest is sustainability, defined as the extent to which the intervention (HOPE 2.0 and ISS) is integrated within the clinics' routine operations. Sustainability will be measured at the provider and management levels using the Sustainment Measurement System Scale at 12, 24, 36, and 42 months (after a 36-42-month post-trial period) post-randomization.	42 month post-randomization
Implementation Outcome 5B: HOPE 2.0 Sustainment in the facilities	The final implementation outcome of interest is sustainability, defined as the extent to which the intervention (HOPE 2.0 and ISS) is integrated within the clinics' routine operations. Sustainability will be measured at the provider and management levels using Interviews at 12, 36, and 42 months post-randomization.	42 month post-randomization

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Service Outcome 1A: Program Effectiveness in increase provider self-efficacy	The first service outcome of interest is Program Effectiveness, defined as the impact of the ISS on healthcare workers' self-efficacy in implementing HOPE 2.0 within their facilities. Program effectiveness outcomes will be measured at provider and management levels using activity log sheets	6 months post-randomization
Service Outcome 1B: Program Effectiveness in increase provider self-efficacy	The first service outcome of interest is Program Effectiveness, defined as the impact of the ISS on healthcare workers' self-efficacy in implementing HOPE 2.0 within their facilities. Program effectiveness outcomes will be measured at provider and management levels using interviews at 1 and 6 months post-randomization.	6 months post-randomization
Service Outcome 1C: Program Effectiveness in increase provider self-efficacy	The first service outcome of interest is Program Effectiveness, defined as the impact of the ISS on healthcare workers' self-efficacy in implementing HOPE 2.0 within their facilities. Program effectiveness outcomes will be measured at provider level using a survey to measure the program effectiveness at the providers' level at 1 and 6 months post-randomization.	6 months post-randomization
Service Outcome 2A: Patients' cervical screening uptake	The service outcome of interest is screening uptake, defined as the completion and return of a self-sample kit and pap test completion. Screening uptake will be measured at the patients' level using surveys at the 1 month and 6 months post-randomization.	6 months post-randomization
Service Outcome 2B: Patients' cervical screening uptake	The service outcome of interest is screening uptake, defined as the completion and return of a self-sample kit and pap test completion. Screening uptake will be measured at the patients' level by verifying the electronic medical records at one month and 6 months post-randomization.	6 months post-randomization
Client Outcome 3A: Patient follow-up treatment.	The client outcome is patient treatment follow-up, defined as whether patients with positive results follow up for treatment or not. The outcomes will be measured at the patients' level using surveys at 6 and 12 months post-receiving the test results.	12 months post randomization.
Client Outcome 3B: Patient follow-up treatment.	The client outcome is patient treatment follow-up, defined as whether patients with positive results follow up for treatment or not. The outcomes will be measured at the patients' level by verifying the patient clinical records at 6 and 12 months post-receiving the test results	12 months post randomization.
Client Outcome: Patient Satisfaction	The client outcome of interest is patient satisfaction, defined as the degree to which patients feel their expectations, needs, and preferences are met by participating in the program. Satisfaction outcomes will be measured at the patients' level by using a satisfaction survey at one post-completing intervention and 6 months after receiving treatment for positive results.	6 months post-randomization

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Baylor University
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Matthew Asare, PhD, Baylor University; Principal Investigator: Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, PhD, University of Cape Coast; Principal Investigator: Nadia Sam-Agudu, MD, University of Minnesota

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 12, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 28, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 29, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Uterine Diseases; Genital Diseases, Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Uterine Cervical Diseases; Uterine Neoplasms; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1U01CA294757-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No