The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA), the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Division of Continuing Medical Education (CME), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan have collaborated on a course aimed at providing a learning opportunity for practitioners on the revised 2023 Cervical Cancer Screening Clinical Practice Guidelines going into effect Monday November 6, 2023.

By the end of the professional development course, the learner will be able to:

1. Estimate the potential benefits and harms of cervical cancer screening among people of different age groups.
2. Identify appropriate screening for special populations including people who are transgender or gender diverse, pregnant, post-hysterectomy, and immunosuppressed. 
3. Discuss the clinical advantages of introducing HPV reflex testing to routine cervical screening. 
4. Describe how the 2023 Cervical Cancer Screening Clinical Practice Guidelines provide evidence-based, patient-centered cervical screening in Saskatchewan.  

 Target Audience 

All Pap providers in Saskatchewan (e.g. Family Physicians, OBGYNs, Nurse Practitioners, Advance Practice Nurses, Midwives). 

 Module 1: HPV Reflex Testing  

Saskatchewan is introducing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) reflex testing for more accurate risk stratification, helping people get the appropriate follow-up care and reducing colposcopic over-treatment. Learn about the purpose and eligibility for HPV reflex testing, the management of HPV results, and the limitations of screening.

Objectives 
Upon completion of the module, participants will be able to:    

1. Identify the age demographic and cytology results that trigger HPV reflex testing. 
2. Discuss the role of HPV reflex testing as a triage mechanism to determine appropriate follow-up of abnormal cytology results. 
3. Delineate the clinical importance of a positive HPV test. 

 Module 2: Screening Population, Initiation, Interval, and Discontinuing 

Learn the expanded definition of the screening population, as well as review the evidence supporting the changes to screening intervals, the age for initiating screening, and when to discontinue screening.

Objectives 
Upon completion of the module, participants will be able to:    

1. Identify who should be screened, when they should start, and at what interval they should be screened. 
2. Explain and obtain informed consent.
3. Choose methods for enhancing screening participation and recall that could work for your practice.
4. Utilize discussion points to guide patients who are deciding to initiate and discontinue screening. 

 Module 3: Management of Cervical Screening Test Results  

Module 3 provides information on the new management of cervical cancer screening test results.

Objectives 
Upon completion of the module, participants will be able to:    

1. Plan appropriate follow-up for the following results: negative for intraepithelial lesions or malignancy (NILM), unsatisfactory, transformational zone absent (SNTZ), and cytologically benign endometrial cells. 
2. Identify the recommended management for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), and high-grade results in a variety of clinical situations.
3. Identify the recommended management of the following Pap results: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and other malignancy.

 Module 4: Other Considerations Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening 

Screening recommendations and considerations for screening persons who are pregnant, gender-diverse, immunosuppressed, or have had a hysterectomy are presented in Module 4.

Objectives 
Upon completion of the module, participants will be able to:   

1. Recognize when prenatal patients need screening and how to manage abnormal results. 
2. Decide when to screen for cervical cancer in patients with hysterectomies in a variety of clinical situations. 
3. Discuss screening recommendations for people who are gender diverse. 
4. Use clinical judgment and engage in informed, joint decision-making with an immunosuppressed patient to choose if more frequent screening should be offered

 Module 5: Transitioning Patients from the 2012 to 2023 Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

This module provides practical information on how to transition patients from the 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines to the 2023 guidelines. What will happen to patients on annual screening? What if a patient is in the middle of an abnormal result follow-up? 

Objectives 
Upon completion of the module, participants will be able to:   

1. Explain the Screening Program for Cervical Cancer’s communication and transition pathways for patients transitioning between the 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines and the 2023 guidelines.  
2. Identify healthcare provider responsibilities and take action to support patients transitioning to the new cervical cancer screening guidelines. 

 Optional * Module 6: Screening Program for Cervical Cancer

Have you ever been curious about the SCA’s Screening Program for Cervical Cancer (SPCC)? This optional module outlines the functions of the SPCC and its communication with patients and healthcare providers.

Upon completion of the module, participants will be able to:    

1. Distinguish roles and functions of the SPCC and primary care providers in cervical cancer screening.
2. Assess the SPCC enrollment criteria for clinical implications for their patients. 
3. Summarize the SPCC operational communication to participants and healthcare providers. 
4. Access and utilize SPCC resources for patients and healthcare providers. 

 Optional * Module 7: HPV Immunization

This optional module discusses HPV vaccination and screening for cervical cancer. It includes the 2023 joint position statement on HPV-associated cancers from the Consortium for Infectious Disease Control (CIDC), the Society of Obstetricians and Gyneacologists of Canada (SOGC), the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC), the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (CSO-HNS) and the Canadian Association of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology.

Objectives 
Upon completion of the module, participants will be able to:   

1. Provide cervical screening for people who have been HPV vaccinated. 
2. Encourage HPV vaccination for all people ages 9 to 26 and for women up to age 45. 
3. Increase awareness of the HPV vaccine and its role in preventing HPV-associated cancers and benign diseases. 
4. Recognize variations in HPV vaccination funding coverage and refer those who need assistance to Public Health. 
5. Discuss the joint statement on HPV prevention by the Consortium for Infectious Disease Control, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada, the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgeons, and the Canadian Association of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology. 

 Registration: Continuous Intake︱Open
 Registration Fees: FREE
 Registration is now open!

We are transitioning to a new registration system to enhance your experience. This update is designed to make enrolling in our courses quicker and more efficient. If you encounter any issues, please see the FAQ page or contact us. 

• Register Here

Read the revised Cervical Cancer Screening Clinical Practice Guidelines with links to support materials.

2023 Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines Checklist

New patient resources are now available. These will be available in multiple languages soon.  

Cervical Health and Screening Resources for Patients

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: This activity is an Accredited Self-Assessment Program (Section 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and approved by the Continuing Medical Education Division, University of Saskatchewan. You may claim a maximum of 1.0 hours (credits are automatically calculated).

Section 2: Self-Learning: Participants are reminded that the video presentations are a valuable source of Section 2 Credits in the MOC framework- Self-Learning. Video, Audio or Podcast learning activities can be claimed for 0.5 credits per activity.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada: This one-credit-per-hour Self Learning program meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by the Continuing Medical Education Division, University of Saskatchewan for up to 4.0 Mainpro+ credits.

Other Healthcare Professionals: Participation in this conference may be included as part of the continuing education and competence programs established by individual professional associations 

For course information, contact:

Screening Program for Cervical Cancer
ED.Coordinator@saskcancer.ca
1-800-667-0017
saskcancer.ca/spcc