Community acceptability of lowering the eligibility age of government funded bowel screening for Aboriginal South Australians to 40 years

Purpose

Building on a study that found that lowering the age of bowel screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to 40 years would be cost-effective, this research examined the acceptability of lowering the bowel screening age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in South Australia.

Methods

Aboriginal community members aged < 50 years were recruited to form Aboriginal men’s (16 men) and women’s (nine women) bowel cancer screening councils. The councils were presented with detailed information relating to the topic and deliberated over two days.

Main findings

The men’s and women’s councils were unanimous in their support for reducing the age of bowel screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The councils identified barriers to reducing the age at participation, and participation in screening in general. Both councils were highly engaged in the process of the two-day deliberation.

Principal conclusions

Lowering the age range for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples participating in the bowel screening program to 40 years was acceptable to both Aboriginal bowel cancer screening councils.