Australia, we can do better! Less than half of National Bowel Cancer Kits are returned.
- Guang Chen
- Aug 24, 2022
- 1 min read
Participation in bowel cancer screening
In 2019–2020, based on preliminary data:
6.1 million people aged 50–74 were invited to participate in the NBCSP.
2.5 million people returned a completed bowel screening test.
The national rate was 41.6%.
Participation by sex and age
In 2019–2020, based on preliminary data:
Women had a higher participation rate than men (43.7% compared with 39.5%).
Those aged 70–74 years had the highest participation rate.
Participation by state/territory
In 2019-2020, based on preliminary data:
South Australia and Tasmania had the highest bowel screening participation rates for people aged 50–74 (47%).
Trends in participation
The national participation rate has increased from 38.9% of invited people aged 50–74 in 2014–2015 to 43.5% in 2018–2019 and fell to 41.6% in 2019–2020. It should be noted that since 2018 the program has widened its target ages resulting in a steady increase in the number of invitees over time
The above information was taken from Cancer screening programs: quarterly data July 2022
The statistics presented on bowel cancer screening highlight significant gaps in participation. Notably, while there was an increase in participation rates over the years, the decline to 41.6% in 2019-2020 raises questions. Engaging communities, perhaps by addressing barriers like access and awareness, is essential. The Pokies https://apathrift.org/ often divert attention from health initiatives, emphasizing the need for a cultural shift towards prioritizing health over distractions.