Cancer Council Australia recognises the key role that GPs and other primary health professionals play in the success of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP). As a health professional, you are integral to the success of the program. Evidence shows that a recommendation by a primary health care provider is a key motivator for participants to screen.
Currently only 44% of eligible Australians complete the NBCSP home screening test (faecal occult blood test: FOBT).
‘Getting to the bottom of bowel screening’ Webinars
Want to get to the bottom of bowel screening?
Cancer Council, in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Health, has developed a three-part webinar series titled ‘Getting to the bottom of bowel screening’ as a part of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) campaign.
This educational series will see industry leaders talking to key topics in the bowel screening space, providing valuable insights to GPs and health professionals to help drive participation in the NBCSP.
You can register for each webinar via the below links, or simply sign up to receive the recording if you’re not able to make it on the night.
- Improving NBCSP participation – understanding our audience
- Tuesday 23 August, 8 – 9 PM (AEST)
- Speakers: Associate Professor Sarah Durkin, Dr Belinda Goodwin
- Host: Dr Eleonora Feletto
- View the recording here.
- Bowel cancer screening – from the GP perspective
- Wednesday 31 August, 8 – 9 PM (AEST)
- Speakers: Professor Jon Emery, Professor Mark Jenkins
- Host: Dr Eleonora Feletto
- View the recording here.
- Getting to the bottom of colonoscopy use in bowel screening
- Tuesday 6 September, 8 – 9 PM (AEST)
- Speaker: Dr Hooi Ee
- Host: Dr Eleonora Feletto
- View the recording here.
Webinar Recordings
View the 'Improving NBCSP participation - understanding our audience' Webinar here.
View the 'Bowel cancer screening - from the GP perspective' Webinar here.
View the 'Getting to the bottom of colonoscopy use in Bowel screening' Webinar here.
Understand why people don’t participate in screening
- Summary of Research Insights Report for Health Professionals
GP Resource Toolkit:
- Bowel Screening GP Mailout
Resources to support patients
- Patient’s eligibility for a NBCSP kit
- Instructional Video
- Translated Resources
- Translated patient resources
- Bowel Cancer screening resources
- Arabic - فهم فحص الأمعاء
- Chinese (Simplified) - 了解肠道筛查
- Chinese (Traditional) - 了解腸道篩查
- Greek - Κατανόηση του προσυμπτωματικού ελέγχου του εντέρου
- Italian - Capire lo screening intestinale
- Resources for Indigenous Australians
- Downloadable tri-fold instructional pamphlet for patients
Email the NBCSP to order a sample kit to demonstrate use to your patients
National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR)
The NCSR is a data repository that provides primary health care professionals better access to cervical and bowel cancer screening information through its Healthcare Provider Portal (HPP).
The HPP allows those with a provider number and Provider Digital Access (PRODA) account to communicate with the NCSR to:
- access a patient’s bowel cancer screening history
- submit program forms
- view and update a patient’s details
- manage a patient’s participation i.e., opt in/opt out, defer, or cease a patient’s correspondence with the NBCSP
- order a replacement screening kit if a patient’s kit is lost, expired or has never been received.
The HPP is available for clinical information software integration with Best Practice, Communicare and Medical Director. More information on how to access the NCSR through the HPP can be found here.
Continuing professional development opportunities
RACGP
- National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Module for primary care professionals - Coming Soon
- Webinars – Coming Soon
- Podcast episode- Coming Soon
- Bowel Cancer Screening Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) Activity
APNA
Other information
- Optimal care pathway for people with colorectal cancer
- Optimal care pathway for people with colorectal cancer – quick reference guide
- Access the ‘Increasing Bowel Cancer Screening in General Practice’ presentation here
Improving practice systems
- Health Provider Portal (HPP)
- Identifying under-screened or unscreened patients
- CAT PLUS PROMPTS unscreened patients
- SMS reminders:
Best Practice SMS set up guide
Medical Director SMS set up guide
Impact of 2019 campaign
More information
- National Bowel Cancer Screening Program – the role of health professionals and providers
- The National Health and Medical Research Council approved Clinical Guidelines for the prevention, early detection, and management of colorectal cancer (2017)
- The National Health and Medical Research Council approved Clinical Practice Guidelines for Surveillance Colonoscopy (2019)
- Journal article: 'Why don’t I need a colonoscopy?’ A novel approach to communicating risks and benefits of colorectal cancer screening