Recent years have witnessed increasing discussion on health education, especially for community health workers (CHWs), who should receive continuing training. The aim of this study was to report on an experience with CHWs trained in cervical cancer prevention. The choice of the theme was based on its relevance and the observed need among CHWs, who did not feel empowered to deal with it. Thus, nine undergraduate medical and nursing students, who were monitors in the PET-Saúde project at the University of Brasília (UnB), held meetings with CHWs in the municipalities (counties) of Ceres and Santa Isabel, Goiás State, Brazil, to provide them with information and techniques in order to improve the success of Pap smears for patients. The methodology used a combination of traditional and critical dialogical learning in order to achieve the best results. The training proved successful, since the CHWs assimilated the concepts and were able to apply them creatively, interacting with the learning process and enriching it with their own personal experiences.
health human resource training; uterine cervical neoplasms; community health aides; problem-based learning; primary health care; public heath