Screening for colorectal cancer in remote, rural and metropolitan South Australia: analysis of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program data
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Date
2011Author
Martini, Angelita
Cole, Stephen Russell
Aylward, Philip Edmund
Baratiny, Genevieve
Gill, Tiffany
Misan, Gary
Young, Graeme Paul
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Show full item recordAbstract
The early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major
clinical and public health concern. CRC is now the
second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia
and has the second highest cancer mortality rate.
Around 1 in 19 men and 1 in 28 Australian women
will develop the disease before 75 years of age. In
2005 there were 4165 deaths from CRC in Australia,
accounting for almost 11% of all cancer deaths.
Cancer mortality rates vary according to the remoteness
of a person’s place of residence. The average annual
death rate for CRC during 1998–2001 in Australia
was highest in inner and outer regional areas (13.4%
and 13.3%), followed by major cities (12.8%), remote
areas (12.4%) and very remote areas (7.7%). Survival
is inversely related to the degree of cancer progression,
and up to 90% of all deaths from CRC may be
preventable with early detection. This study aimed to explore the association between
screening participation and different sociodemographic
indicators in SA. This was part of a broader study that
included a qualitative exploration of the barriers to
and facilitators of NBCSP participation among selected
ethnic groups, Indigenous Australians and people who
speak English at home. This paper also draws
on these qualitative findings in discussing the uptake
of screening in rural, remote and metropolitan areas
of SA.