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Mar
15
2018
Breast and cervical cancer screening program participation rates are still very low in our region:
In 2015-2016 the participation rate in the National Cervical Screening Program among women aged 20-69 years of age in the North Coast region was 59.3% of eligible women (55.4% nationally)1.
In 2015-2016 the participation rate in the BreastScreen Australia Program across the North Coast region was 57.4% of eligible women (50-69 years) and nationally was 55.1%. Yet, among the 50-54 years age group, the rate of participation across the North Coast (49.0%) is lower than the national rate for this age group (50.0%)1.
North Coast doctors have been improving breast and cervical screening rates through structured, clinician led quality improvement and health literacy interventions.
An exciting element of this project has been to meet with women from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie to explore personal, social and cultural barriers and enablers for participating in breast and cervical cancer screening programs. Focus groups and one-to-one interviews have been held since October 2017. The information gathered from this research will support local health agencies to support women’s engagement in screening. The consumer research report will be available in May 2018.
Another highlight of the project has been the WCSC Women’s Health Conference: Improving How We Detect and Manage Cancer. 178 doctors, practice nurses and practice administrators attended the conferences held in Kingscliff and Port Macquarie. 95% of conference attendees said that they will take action at a practice/patient level as a result of the information provided.
Improved cancer screening rates is an Australian Government ‘Headline Performance Indicator’ for Primary Health Networks. The North Coast Primary Health Care Network is committed to improving screening rates in the region, in particular the rates of vulnerable populations.
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2017.
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We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we live and work, the Bundjalung, Arakwal, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Githabul, Dunghutti and Birpai Nations, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future.