Updated cervical screening education course

Healthcare providers – build knowledge and skills to offer your patients the self-collection option for cervical screening HPV testing.

Date published:
Audience:
General public

Since 1 July 2022, women and people with a cervix aged 25-74 have had the choice to screen either through:

  • self-collection of a vaginal sample (unless a co-test is indicated)
  • clinician-collection of a sample from the cervix using a speculum.

The National Cervical Screening Program education course now reflects self-collection as an option for HPV testing.  

The updates to the course align with the NCSP Guidelines to help healthcare providers learn more about:

  • self-collected vaginal samples as an alternative screening option
  • support for patients in making the choice
  • how to increase cancer screening participation rates, especially in under-screened groups.

The course is a self-directed CPD online training course consisting of six modules. It aims to reinforce and increase knowledge about the Cervical Screening Test and screening pathways.

You can find information on self-collection as a screening option throughout all modules. Module 3 Screening in Practice describes the steps involved in supporting a patient to self-collect a vaginal sample.

Additional support for healthcare providers

Educational resources are available to support implementing self-collection in your practice:

View the full range of national resources for both healthcare providers and participants.

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