Self-Collection Cervical Screening

Understanding screening methods and interpreting results is vital for clinicians to provide optimal care. For patients, being informed about screening options enables proactive, preventative health measures. In line with the National Cervical Cancer Clinical Guidelines, screening is recommended for women or individuals with a cervix, aged between 25 and 74 years, and anyone who has ever been sexually active. 

Patients can choose from two screening methods: traditional healthcare provider collection, where the provider collects and sends the sample for testing, or self-collection, where patients actively participate by collecting their own sample under provider guidance. Both methods require the healthcare provider to communicate the test results.  

Participate in these quality improvement activities focused on cervical screening, particularly self-collection, to enhance patient care and optimize your practice operations, ensuring adherence to the highest healthcare standards in cervical health. 

Step 1: Watch the webinars (recordings on right hand resource panel)

Learn the essential updates on cervical cancer prevention by watching our specialised webinars. Understand the benefits of self-collection methods (especially for those under or never screened populations), interpretation of results, and integration into general practice workflows. 

Brisbane North PHN’s Empowering Health: Self-Collection Cervical Screening in Primary Care webinar

• The significance of self-collection in increasing screening rates. 
• Utilization of the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) to manage patient records and reminders. 

RACGP's Speculum sabbatical-supporting self-collection for cervical screening webinar

• Comprehensive guidance on the self-collection process for clinical staff. 

Step 2: Implementing Cervical Screening in Your Practice

Introduce or refine cervical screening in your practice focusing on the self-collection method: 

• Update your practice with the latest cervical cancer clinical guidelines 
• Incorporate self-collection opportunistically 
• Use tools such as the National Cervical Screening Program and the National Cancer Screening Register, which can be integrated with your clinical software to manage and track screenings. 

Step 3: Choose your continuous quality improvement activity

Select from a range of quality improvement activities tailored to enhance cervical screening rates and patient engagement in your practice: 

1. Simple plan a meeting PDSA: New to CQI? Why not start with this beginner activity. 
2. Cervical screening QIM 9 PDSA: Develop a plan to increase cervical screening in your practice. This activity includes integrating with the National Cancer Screening Register (NSCR), identifying and recalling patients, and tracking cervical screening offers.
3. Integrate with the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) PDSA: Develop a plan to improve the accuracy and efficiency of identifying a patient’s cancer screening status by integrating with the NCSR. 
4. Mini audit cervical screening self-collection: Evaluate your practice's current screening rates by identifying eligible patients and offering screening options.

Examples of PDSA and mini audit templates can be found on the right resource panel.

Get Support

Additional resources can be found on the right side of the webpage, including:

• A master planner PDSA that you can complete to increase cervical screening in your practice
• Autofill template for Best Practice software, used to track cervical self-collection offers
• Autofill template for Medical Director software used to track cervical self-collection offers 

For additional support and guidance on implementing cervical screening self-collection in your practice, contact our quality improvement and development engagement officers via the Practice Support email and phone line.