To explore the key factors influencing nurses' capability, opportunity and motivation to offer the choice for self-collection for cervical screening within rural primary care services, following a national policy change in Australia.
A qualitative study informed by implementation and behavioural change frameworks.
Primary health nurses working in Victoria were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews via video or telephone between December 2022 and March 2023. Eighteen nurses from 18 clinics participated. Interview data were analysed following a Framework analysis approach, and themes were mapped to the COM-B model.
Nurses were highly motivated to offer the choice for self-collection due to perceived advantages for their patients and potential opportunities for reaching people hesitant to screen. There was variation in how nurses offered this choice, and to whom. Some nurses were concerned about lost opportunities to visualise the vulval area or cervix, or to have broader health and wellbeing conversations with patients. Views were mixed about how self-collection would impact nurse roles, and several external factors were impacting their opportunities as cervical screening providers.
Appropriately trained nurses have the capability and motivation to incorporate the choice for self-collection within their screening practice; however, their opportunity to maximise equity and increase participation is impacted by funding models and structures that limit their autonomy.
People living outside major cities experience greater healthcare inequities. Australia introduced access to the choice for self-collection for all eligible individuals in 2022, in part to achieve greater equity in the national screening program. Nurses can play a key role in program delivery. Understanding how they incorporate self-collection into their practice, and the key factors influencing implementation in rural primary care settings, can inform future program implementation and improve outcomes for patients.
We have adhered to COREQ reporting guidelines.
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.
A spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts synaptic connections between the corticospinal tract and motor neurons, impairing muscle control below the injury site. Many individuals with an SCI have impaired trunk control, affecting the performance of activities of daily living and quality of life. Work has shown improvements in trunk control after home-based, unsupervised arm-crank exercise training (ACET) in people with chronic motor-incomplete SCI. However, no studies have examined ACET’s impact on trunk control in individuals with subacute SCI. This study aims to investigate ACET’s effects on trunk control in adults with subacute incomplete SCI, and its mechanisms, and its long-term benefits on neuropathic pain, psychological well-being, physical activity levels and health-related quality of life.
This multicentre, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial will evaluate self-directed ACET in 60 individuals with subacute SCI (
This study was approved by The Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales (22/NS/0054). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. Findings will be presented at National and International conferences for researchers and clinicians. Finally, results will be disseminated to the SCI community.