Cervical Cytology – level 7

This course aims to facilitate you in taking a lead in your clinical area in the provision of this major aspect of preventative health, within the NHS cervical screening programme. The course addresses both the relevant skills and evidence base for your role as a cervical sample taker.

The content of the course examines the principles of the NHS cervical screening programme and principles of screening in the UK.

Course content includes:

• risk factors associated with cervical abnormalities
• the natural history of cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer
• current and future developments related to cervical screening.

Who is it for?

This course is suitable for health care professionals who wish to become sample takers.

Timetable

Term 2

MAR: Monday 14, Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 and Friday 18 March 2022

Exam: Tuesday 19 April 2022

Benefits

This module can be taken as a stand-alone module for health care practitioners seeking to develop their skills in smear sample taking, and as part of a postgraduate diploma or MSc programme.

This course is worth 15 credits.

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

By the end of the course you will be able to demonstrate the following:

Knowledge and understanding:

• To critically evaluate, apply and appraise knowledge and understanding of the NHS cervical screening programme and its implementation locally.
• To critically review, appraise and justify the clinical management options for the treatment of cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer.
• Critically evaluate and consider the aims of any screening programme and consider possible unintended outcomes.
• Critically evaluate and appraise proposed changes to the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.
• Demonstrate critical awareness of sources of information that inform the changes that occur in cells that are becoming cancerous.

Skills:

• Critically appraise and recognise the value and importance of self-audit and the requirement for continuous professional and personal development.
• To critically appraise and review the importance of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology in relation to cervical screening and cytology.
• Critically analyse current research and apply this knowledge in relation to cervical screening.
• Critically review, evaluate and appraise the relevant pathogenesis, risk factors and natural history associated with the development of cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer.

Values and attitudes:

• To build up and develop skills in information retrieval and critical synthesis.
• To demonstrate the specific skills needed to develop competency in cervical sample taking using the current evidence base.

The assessment is in 2 parts – both of which must be passed.

Part 1

Part 1 consists of three elements namely an Interim Assessment, Skills Schedule, and a Final Clinical Assessment.

• You must observe at least two cervical smear samples being taken by your mentor (PHE, 2020)
• Once you have completed taking at least five cervical smear samples under the direct supervision of your mentor, you will need to undertake an Interim Assessment with your mentor (PHE, 2020)
• After completing and passing the Interim Assessment, you can then commence to undertake 20 cervical smear samples
• Your results of your 20 cervical smear samples must meet a true adequacy level of a minimum of 95% for all your results
• You then need to undertake a Final Clinical Assessment with an external assessor who cannot be your mentor and who will observe and assess you taking at least three cervical smear samples (PHE, 2020).
  
  Mentors and assessors can be one of the following:
• Registered nurse
• Registered midwife
• Registered physician associate
• General Medical Council registered medical doctor.

They must:

• be practising sample takers
• having at least 12 months continuous experience
• have undertaken a minimum of 50 samples following completion of initial training
• have effective communication skills and ideally hold a relevant mentoring and, or teaching qualification
  
  Additionally, the mentor and assessor must be able to show continuing competence in taking samples for cervical screening with particular reference to:
• equipment and sample preparation
• sampling technique
• transformation zone sampling
• audit of results and feedback from trainees
• must undertake a formal cervical screening update at least every three years

Part 2

Part 2 is an exam consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions and one problem based scenario. The exam will test the knowledge and theory from the content of the taught component of the module.

The submission date for (Part 1) will be Monday 19 September, 2022.

The date of the exam (Part 2) will be Monday 18 April, 2022.

Certificates

On successful completion of all assessments, you will be issued with a Certificate of Achievement.

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

Non-EEA students can only apply as part of a programme, not as a stand-alone module.

You must be registered in the United Kingdom as a health care professional with your professional body without restrictions on practice.

You must have an identified mentor and external assessor.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• A first degree from a UK university
• A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions from Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
• International English Language Test Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required with no subtest below 7.0
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required
• TOEFL 100 overall with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 Reading and 20 Speaking
• Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned, including registration with your professional regulator.