By Parker McKenzie
New data shows 14,940 South-Eastern Melbourne residents completed bowel cancer screenings, doubling the original target of 7000 set by Cancer Council Victoria.
Cancer Council Victoria launched a project in 2019 to increase participation of South-East residents in the national bowel cancer screening program after only 42.8 per cent of people in the area completed free screenings.
The project aimed to develop promotional strategies for general practices to encourage members of the community to participate in the bowel cancer screening program through information, resources and support.
Head of Cancer Screening at Cancer Council Victoria Kate Broun said the results proved the importance of long term projects with material tailored for culturally diverse communities.
“In addition to our mass media activities we were able to reach key multicultural groups through targeted education sessions about the importance of bowel screening, along with instructions and support on how to complete the bowel kit when it arrived in the mail,” Ms Broun said.
“Almost all respondents of those surveyed as part of the project evaluation reported that their understanding and awareness of bowel cancer screening had increased as a result of the education session they attended, and that they felt more confident to complete their bowel screening kit.”
Cancer Council Victoria worked in partnership Professor of Primary Cancer Research Jon Emery from the University of Melbourne to engage with general practitioners and health professionals.
“GPs play a key role in lifting screening participation rates, whether it’s through encouraging patients to do the home-test; explaining what is involved in the test; dispelling myths or sending letters or text messages to patients who are about to receive the test,” Professor Emery said.
“GPs are well-trusted sources of health information in our multicultural communities, they are integral to the success of this campaign and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.”
New data from the Cancer Council Victoria’s Cancer Registry shows a 17 per cent decrease of bowel cancer incidence during the first nine months of 2020 when compared to the same period in 2019.
This data has caused Cancer Council Victoria to launch a new media campaign because of fears it could be caused by delays in residents seeing a doctor or completing a free screening.
