Research insights to increase participationin bowel cancer screening
Currently 42% of eligible Australians participate in the free National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. Yet screening enables early detection of bowel cancer – when 90% of cases can be treated successfully.
Our alliance brings together Australia’s leading researchers to focus on this critical national health challenge: how do we increase participation of Australians in life-saving bowel cancer screening?
OUR STORY
The Australian Government provides a world-class National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. However, the number of eligible Australians participating in it is amongst the lowest in the world, 42% compared to around 60% for similar screening programs overseas.
BCSA is undertaking research to find ways to increase screening participation to world-class levels. .
If screening could be increased by 20%, for example, it is predicted an additional 37,000 bowel cancers and 25,000 bowel cancer deaths could be prevented in Australia over the next 20 years.
This first-time alliance comprises 13 institutes – interdisciplinary experts from epidemiology, screening, public health, general practice, multicultural health literacy, behavioural science, and digital technologies – working together to find solutions.
: What can we learn from high-performing programs to increase bowel cancer screening participation in Australia?
