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November: QI Activity

Health Topic: Cervical Cancer

National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week runs from 10 - 16 November 2024.

This year, the theme is: 1+5 = Cervical cancer protection

With changes to our national programs, all that is required is one (1) dose of HPV vaccine for young people PLUS cervical screening every five (5) years for women and people with a cervix from age 25–74 years.

The self-collection cervical screening project within our region has increased from from 1,533 (20%) in July 2022 to 2,984 (34%) in March 2024, which means we are now above the QLD PHN average of 29% self-collection.

In our region, self-collection cervical screening within our region has increased from 1,533 or 20% (July 2022) to March 2024 2,984 or 34% (March 2024) compared to the Qld average of 29%. While this is good progress, we'd love to see these rates increase even more.

Step 1: Identify your QI Measures

Start by considering which of the relevant QI measures you will work towards in support of cervical screening. Measures that are relevant for patients eligible for cervical screening include:

  • QI measure 9: Proportion of female patients with an up-to-date cervical screening

Learn more about these QI Measures

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Step 2: Undertake your QI activity

We've prepared a simple worksheet that can help you work through activity you will need undertake to meet the Improvement Measure you have selected.

1. Identify your plan, using the Model for Improvement:

  • What are you trying to accomplish? eg. Increase the proportion of eligible patients who are overdue and/or not recorded for cervical screening.
  • How will we know that change is an improvement? Set a specific measure or SMART goal, eg. increase the proportion of regular (active) eligible patients who are overdue and/or not recorded for cervical screening at the practice by 15% by the end of the PIP quarter.
  • What changes can you make that will result in improvement? Come up with your own ideas or consider ours below.

2. Some possible ideas you could choose to do:

  • Conduct a team meeting to ensure all relevant team members are aware of the PIP QI focus for the quarter and highlight the importance of increasing cervical screening participation.
  • Complete a CAT4 search for eligible patients and recall those who are overdue and/or not recorded for cervical screening.
  • Regularly use Pen CS CAT4 and/or Topbar to track and report the percentage of eligible patients in this cohort. Save and document these reports throughout the PIP quarter (ensure all staff are aware that a PDSA is to be completed and filed each quarter should your practice be audited).
  • Display Cervical Screening awareness materials in the clinic waiting room including Self-Collection materials.
  • Utilise Topbar PIP QI app or create own CAT Prompt that is cervical screening specific.
  • Use PHN Exchange to track cervical screening trends over time to see if we are continuing to improve.

3. Document your actions

  • Use our PDSA Worksheet to document your activity. It also walks you through how to complete a CAT4 search and use PHN Exchange to track cervical screening trends.

4. Resources to help you

Need PHN support?

Our Primary Care Liaison team is available to provide one-on-one support.

Call 07 4615 0900 or contact us online

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Last updated 11 February 2025