Breast, Bowel and Cervical Cancer Screening

About this Program

Encourage patients to participate in bowel, breast and cervical cancer screening programs.

Cancer screening allows for prevention, early detection, and timely treatment. Australia has three national cancer screening programs:

• National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP)
• National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP)
• BreastScreen Australia.

Australia’s three national cancer screening programs have been highly successful in reducing illness and deaths from bowel, cervical and breast cancer, however many more Australian lives can be saved by increasing engagement in screening. The number one factor influencing a person’s decision to screen is endorsement by a GP or nurse. Have you come across these situations?

• A patient refuses a cervical screening test. You know of self-collection but are unsure of the safety and efficacy of the test and concerned you won’t be able to visually inspect other signs. Should you offer self-collection?
• Your patient is over 60 and had a colonoscopy that was normal 2 years ago for symptoms that have resolved. When should he be doing his next FOBT?

This course will address such challenges, dispel myths and uncertainties around screening, offer tips to boost screening, and provide further resources for your practice.

CPD Accreditation

This course is CPD accredited with the following organisations for the 2023 - 2025 triennium:

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP):

• Educational Activities: 5.5 hours
• Reviewing Performance: 1.5 hours

Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM):

• Educational Activities: 5.5 hours
• Reviewing Performance: 1.5 hours

You may also be eligible for the Practice Incentive Program (PIP) Quality Improvement Incentive. Please speak to your local PHN for more information.

CPD for nurses Nurses will receive a Certificate of Completion upon completion of the course in its entirety as evidence of your learning.

Program Content

Learning Outcomes
This course will help you achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Outline the importance of GP and nurse endorsement in influencing patients’ decisions to participate in cancer screening programs.
• Apply culturally safe practice and provide equitable access for underscreened population groups.
• Provide high quality, appropriate referral to screening and assessment services.
• Implement quality improvements to practice systems to identify underscreened patients.
• Be able to identify opportunities for data driven Quality Improvement related to improving cancer screening.

Course Content

• Overview of screening programs
• Cervical screening
• Bowel cancer screening
• Breast cancer screening
• Cultural safety and underscreened groups
• What practices can do to increase screening