Bowel cancer is one of the most treatable cancers – if it’s found early.
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) mails out a free bowel screening test to eligible Australians aged between 50 and 74. This test can help find changes in the bowel long before any symptoms occur.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are less likely to screen through the national program than other Australians, and are more likely to be diagnosed with bowel cancer at an advanced stage, when treatment is less likely to be successful.
Menzies research has now shown that this bowel screening Gap can be overcome if screening kits are given out through primary health care centres, where a trusted health professional can explain why the test is important, and how to do it. As a result, an 'Alternative Pathway' for kit distribution and screening promotion is expected to be introduced as part of the NBCSP in early 2022.
The National Indigenous Bowel Screening Pilot
The Australian Government Department of Health contracted Menzies to research, consult about and develop a model that could increase participation in bowel screening by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In 2018-19, the Alternative Pathway model was piloted nationally, with 47 Indigenous primary health care centres from across Australia.
The pilot was conducted as a cluster randomised controlled trial under the leadership of Professor Gail Garvey, with health centres randomly allocated to receive either intensive or low intensity support to take up the Alternative Pathway.
While not all health centres managed to implement the Alternative Pathway, mainly due to competing priorities, there was no significant difference between the performance of health centres who received either level of support. Overall, the rate of screening participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the pilot was similar to that of non-Indigenous Australians through the NBCSP's usual mail out model. An evaluation of the pilot is available here.
Many health centres that took part in the pilot continue to give out kits to their patients, despite the interruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bowel screening promotional materials for use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are available from www.health.gov.au - search for National Indigenous Bowel Screening Pilot.
A training module for health professionals can be found at www.indigenousbowelscreen.com.au and via the website above.
For information about the new Alternative Pathway for kit distribution, contact nbcsp@health.gov.au
Project dates: 2015-2020
The National Indigenous Bowel Screening Pilot was a combined effort of many individuals and organisations. We would like to acknowledge:
- The project funder, the Australian Government Department of Health, and the many individuals within the Department who assisted with the project.
- Menzies project team, which over time included: Gail Garvey, Jenny Brands, Boden Tighe, Mark Westby, Brian Arley, Tamara Butler, Christine Long, Georgina Smart, Anne-Marie Dewar, Bronwyn Morrison, Bridget Kehoe, Nicole Hewlett, Matt Plant, Sheree Rablin, Cylence Fewquandie, Bonnie Laxton-Blinkhorn.
- Members of the Project Advisory Board; Education and Training Reference Group; Implementation Planning Group; and the Project Scientific Committee (Ross Andrews, Ross Bailie, Alan Cass, John Condon, Richard Reed, John Zalcberg, Joan Cunningham).
- Enthusiastic supporters of the Pilot around the country, including Supporting Agencies such as State and Territory Health Departments, Cancer Councils, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies and Primary Health Networks.
- All of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary healthcare centres who were involved with the Pilot, and all the individual health professionals and patients who gave their time to take part in the Pilot and its evaluation.
Formal collaborators:
- Mick Adams, Edith Cowan University (Indigenous Health Infonet)
- Ross Bailie, University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney
- Neil Drew, Edith Cowan University (Indigenous Health Infonet)
- Melissa Ledger, Cancer Council WA
- Mark Ludbrooke, NSW Cancer Council Richard Reed, Flinders University
- Shaouli Shahid, Curtin University
- Sandra Thompson, University of Western Australia
- John Zalcberg, Monash University Cancer Council Queensland NT Primary Health Network
A set of resources that can be used to promote the NBCSP have been produced following widespread consultation and engagement with both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and health professionals.
The resources for the usual pathway include a poster, postcard and a brochure with easy to follow instructions to do the test, and information sheets for health professionals.
Four hip hop videos that were produced in collaboration with local communities to encourage screening are also available. Visit the website for further information.
For the latest news, follow the project team on Facebook or visit www.indigenousbowelscreen.com.au
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Update on the National Indigenous Bowel Screening Pilot
The Australian Government Department of Health has funded Menzies School of Health Research to prepare for, and implement the National Pilot.
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$440 million funding boost for vital health and medical research for all stages of life
$6 million in research funding for three Indigenous health grants in the Northern Territory. This includes $2.5 million for an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence at the Menzies School of Health Research to prevent and manage bronchiectasis, a lung disease which results in recurrent chest infections and is particularly common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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Media Release | THE 2nd WORLD INDIGENOUS CANCER CONFERENCE
Indigenous communities, consumers and health experts from around the world have come together at the opening of the second World Indigenous Cancer Conference (WICC) at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre in Canada.
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ABC PM | Rising Indigenous cancer death rates are being overlooked
Professor Gail Garvey, Senior Principal Research Fellow and Deputy Division Leader, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Diseases Division, Menzies School of Health Research.
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University of Newcastle - Alumni Medal for Professional Excellence
Professor Garvey has established an international collaborative research program with IARC on cancer and Indigenous people globally.