Push for bowel cancer screening policy to refocus on the evidence
Effective implementation of an evidence-based bowel cancer-screening program could reduce the number of deaths from the disease by almost a quarter, according to an article published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
The article by Ms Kathy Flitcroft, Research Fellow (Health Policy) at the Sydney School of Public Health and co-authors, analyses the history, development, implementation and effectiveness of bowel cancer-screening policy in Australia over the past fifteen years.
“Research evidence appears to have played a major role in the development of bowel cancer screening policy proposals. However, policy decisions about how best to implement the program have not been evidence based and reflect a lack of understanding of the importance of research evidence in population screening programs,” Ms Flitcroft said.
Ms Flitcroft stated that since 2006 the Government has provided a limited bowel cancer-screening program that ignores evidence outlining the successful implementation of population-based screening programs.
“An evidence-based bowel cancer screening program would include biennial screening of those over 50 years old, as recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council,” Ms Flitcroft said.
“If this option is precluded by lack of resources, … even a partial program can be implemented in an evidence-based way, and failure to do so threatens to undermine the potential public health gains of a national bowel cancer screening program.”
“Fifteen years on from the Government’s first involvement in bowel cancer screening, policies concerning age cohorts and screening intervals seem to be based on what the government deems it can afford, and not on firm evidence of what is required for a screening program to obtain worthwhile mortality and morbidity benefits.
“To realise the expected public health gains from a national bowel cancer screening program, the government needs to return this important public health policy to its evidence-based beginnings.”
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
The statements or opinions that are expressed in the MJA reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless that is so stated.
CONTACT: Ms Kathy Flitcroft 0433 455 121 / 9810 8921
Dr Lyndal Trevena 0414 418 124
Rachel Gleeson 0403 067 342
Media Officer, University of Sydney