Seeking help from healthcare providers to increase participation in cancer screening programs

The Australian Government Department of Health is seeking help from healthcare providers to increase participation in the national cancer screening programs (bowel, breast and cervical).

We know cancer screening saves lives, but only around 50 per cent of Australians eligible for the national cancer screening programs – BreastScreen Australia, National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and National Cervical Screening Program – complete the tests.

Australians diagnosed through the national cancer screening programs are:

• 59 per cent less likely to die from bowel cancer
• 69 per cent less likely to die from breast cancer
• 87 per cent less likely to die from cervical cancer, compared to Australians diagnosed another way.

Research shows primary healthcare workers are key to motivating patients to participate in cancer screening.

From mid June 2022, the department will begin distributing cancer screening packs to more than 8000 general practices across Australia. The packs will include:

• Three A3 posters, one for each national cancer screening program, with reminder messaging. We ask practices to place these in waiting rooms and other places visible to patients to prompt a conversation with their health care provider about cancer screening.
• Demonstration samples of the bowel cancer screening home test kit and the cervical screening self-collection swab – these can be used to show patients how to do the tests.
• Information on how to use the cancer screening tests and where to find educational resources on cancer screening.

Digital copies of the printed materials within the pack can also be found on the Department of Health website.

More information on cancer screening and resources for healthcare providers can be found on the Department of Health website.

Access Cancer Screening information on HealthPathways