Providing a localised cervical cancer screening course for general practice nurses

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Cervical cancer screening programs in Australia aim to detect precancerous changes in women aged 25-74.
• Barriers to screening include cultural appropriateness, access, health literacy, emotional factors, socio-economic status, and provider preference.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in remote areas face additional barriers like distrust and service scarcity, leading to higher mortality rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the need for accessible training programs for general practice nurses (GPNs) in rural and remote Australia.
• To highlight how upskilling GPNs can address barriers to cervical screening uptake.
• To generate further discussion on improving cervical cancer screening equity.

Main Methods:

• This is a forum paper, generating discussion rather than reporting empirical data.
• It synthesizes existing knowledge on cervical screening barriers and the role of GPNs.
• It identifies challenges in GPN training, particularly for those in remote locations.

Main Results:

• General practice nurses are suitable for conducting cervical screening tests (CSTs) after training.
• GPNs conducting CSTs can reduce GP workload, enhance teamwork, and overcome some screening barriers.
• Current training accessibility favors metropolitan GPNs, requiring rural/remote nurses to travel extensively for practical training.

Conclusions:

• Upskilling general practice nurses is crucial for improving cervical cancer screening rates.
• Training programs must be made available in rural and remote areas to support GPNs.
• Addressing training accessibility is essential for equitable cervical screening across Australia, particularly for Indigenous populations.