This course aims to equip all healthcare workers to improve cervical cancer prevention through a comprehensive approach, by focusing on both primary and secondary prevention strategies, ensuring early detection and effective intervention.

About the course

Course Design:
Self-directed.

Duration: 
It will take you 3 hours to complete.

Eligibility for this course: 
All healthcare workers, but specifically those working in women's health, in Western Cape Government facilities.

Accreditation: 
This course is accredited for: HPCSA: Level 1 -  1 Clinical CPD point; 2 Ethical CPD points; SANC: 3 CPD points in Area of Practice.

Certification: 
Participants need 70% pass mark for final quiz.

Published: 
July 2025

If you meet the eligibility criteria, apply to start:

Your supervisor details are required

Apply to enroll

Course outline

This course covers the following content:
Content outline: 
1. Module 1: Overview of cervical cancer
  • Incidence, prevalence and mortality rates (Global and South Africa)
  • Factors contributing to high rates of cervical cancer
  • Impact on women's health and the importance of client education
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV): high risk vs low risk
  • Testing symptomatic women
  • The WHO call to action (2018)
  • Summary of the WHO updated guidelines and recommendations
2. Module 2: Communicating with empathy
  • Chapter 1: Understanding communication in healthcare.
  • Chapter 2: Support a client to make a behavioural change using Motivational Interviewing.
  • Chapter 3: Making Every Contact Count (MECC)
  • Chapter 4: Communicating sensitive information with compassion.
  • Chapter 5: Self-compassion using R.A.I.N.
3. Module 3: Primary prevention
  • Prophylactic HPV vaccine
  • Who and when to vaccinate
  • Immunisation schedule, missed doses
  • School-based HPV vaccination
  • Special populations
  • Efficacy
  • Vaccine safety
  • Achieving herd protection
  • Other primary prevention strategies
4. Module 4: Secondary prevention
  • Part 1: Screening
    • Background: screening & surveillance; transition from cytology to HPV.
    • Western Cape screening guidelines.
    • Screening methodology: tests & specimen collections
    • Screening results: interpretation & actions.
  • Part 2: Specimen collection how-to-video
    • Pre-collection: counselling and consent.
    • Preparation: equipment, set-up, documenting.
    • Collection: step-by step on how to perform procedure to collect adequate sample.
    • Post-collection: follow up, and registry.
  • Part 3: Management
    • Background: place of colposcopy in old vs. new guideline; who is referred for management/treatment.
    • Colposcopy and biopsy: overview and indications.
    • Treatment: principles; ablative treatment; excisional treatment
    • Peri-procedural care: client counselling & advice; pain management; complications



Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness
People Development Centre

Acknowledgements:

  • Knowledge Translation Unit