Colorectal screening in Canada, 2023-24
Colorectal screening promotional strategies
On this page:
Ten provinces and two territories have specific promotional strategies for recruitment to colorectal screening. Examples of promotional strategies used include program-related correspondence, public awareness campaigns, social media, education for healthcare providers and more.
Of the seven jurisdictions that send mailed invitation letters, six provinces send reminders if screening is not initiated.
Colorectal screening promotional strategies
| P/T | Public awareness campaigns | Social media campaigns | Program website | Promo materials (e.g., brochures) | Radio or print ads | Community events | Booths at conference and health symposium | Education resources and events for healthcare providers | Education resources for public | Physician linked correspondence program | Online interactive reports | Promotion of guidelines to PCP | Billboards and transit ads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| NT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| NU | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| BC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| AB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| SK | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| MB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| ON | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓^ | ✓~ | ✓~ | ✓ | ✓~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| QC** | ✓ | ||||||||||||
| NB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓‡ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| NS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||||
| PE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| NL | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
*YT: Promotional community visits in planning
^ON: This occurs some years and is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health (e.g., Mar 2020, Sept 2021)
~ON: These occur via Regional Cancer Programs
**QC: Promotional strategies will be implemented gradually with the integration of new aspects to the program
‡NB: Testimonial videos and refreshed branding in 2022-2023
-NU: No information was provided at the time data were collected
Colorectal screening reminder notifications
| P/T | Recruitment letter |
|---|---|
| YT | – |
| NT* | Reminder letter sent 8–12 weeks after initial FIT distribution* |
| NU | – |
| BC | – |
| AB | – |
| SK | Reminder letter sent at 9 and 18 weeks after initial FIT distribution if no result received |
| MB | Reminder letter sent 56 days after initial invitation |
| ON | Reminder letter sent 4 months after initial invitation; if screening is still not done, eligible people receive another invitation to screen in 2 years |
| QC | |
| NB | Reminder letter sent 12 weeks after initial invitation |
| NS | Reminder letter sent 12 weeks after kit is mailed |
| PE | |
| NL | Reminder letter sent 12 weeks after initial invitation |
*NT: In regions where the organized screening program has been rolled out
-NU: No information was provided at the time data were collected