Colorectal screening in Canada, 2023-24

Screening experience for First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis

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Engagement strategies include developing educational materials and ongoing relationship building.

Community engagement strategies with First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis

P/T Specific community engagement strategies that each jurisdiction has used with First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis governments, organizations, partners or community groups
YT
  • There have been a number of leadership changes within Health and Services health programs. Planning steps have required waiting for the changes to be completed.
NT
  • Focus groups and program feedback to tailor promotional materials.
  • Social media involvement to promote the screening program locally.
NU –
BC
  • Indigenous Health Promotion Specialist staff that travels to Indigenous communities to build relationships, identify partnerships, and engage directly with community members to understand barriers to screening.
  • Multi-year partnership with First Nations Health Authority to engage Indigenous populations to understand and address barriers to screening.
AB
  • Data sharing agreements are being developed with First Nations and other groups to conduct ongoing assessments and monitoring to inform engagement strategies.
SK
  • The SPCRC engages with Indigenous communities across SK to provide local education relating to CRC screening (e.g., health fairs and community events).
MB
  • Invitations, recalls, and reminders are actively sent to eligible persons.
  • ColonCheck partners with community engagement liaisons in each regional health authority in the province to provide resources for one-to-one education.
  • Grant-funded project to mail 15,000 FOBT kits to underserved populations, a great proportion of which will be sent to First Nations and Métis populations.
  • Illustrated instructions and guide to colorectal cancer screening used to support those challenged by written communications or language barriers.
ON
  • Regional Cancer Programs (RCPs), including Regional Indigenous Cancer Leads, Indigenous Navigators and Project Coordinators, work closely with the Indigenous Cancer Care Unit (ICCU) at Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) and Indigenous communities within each region to tailor recruitment strategies, including the development of customized Regional Indigenous Cancer Plans, to ensure they are appropriate and effective. This includes the development of Indigenous-specific educational resources that are translated into Indigenous languages.
  • In partnership with the RCPs, the ICCU works with Indigenous communities to attend community events, including Pow Wows and health fairs, to share information on cancer screening.
  • The Mobile Screening Coaches in the Hamilton-Niagara-Haldimand-Brant and North West regions visit Indigenous communities to bring screening closer to home.
  • Through the relationships developed and fostered by the ICCU, regional teams have been able to continue working with communities as guided by the First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous Cancer Strategy.
QC –
NB
  • First Nations community will participate in community advisory/working group(s).
NS
  • Partnering with Mi’kmaq First Nations health leaders and directors.
PE
  • A study focused on collecting and analysing data from February to March 2023 addressed a series of questions that aligned with two main themes:
    • Awareness and understanding, and accessibility and participation as they relate to cancer screening in PEI.
    • Collected perspectives, experiences, and opinions from various community members, or representatives from organizations working directly with community members (immigrants, Indigenous communities). Individual community members who might be interested in participating in the consultations were approached. The consultation team invited individuals to participate in either one-on-one interviews or small group discussions (holding focus groups, key stakeholder interviews).
NL
  • Participation and engagement with CPAC-funded project for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations within the Cancer Care Program.
  • Targeted presentations to healthcare professionals who provide direct healthcare services to Indigenous populations.
  • Development of translated materials within the home-screening FIT kit.
  • Development of wordless instructions to be used throughout the screening program.

– No information was provided at the time data were collected.

Strategies to improve screening participation through understanding and addressing barriers

P/T Strategies jurisdictions have used with First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis communities to identify and reduce barriers to screening participation
YT
  • Program Manager is on First Nations Cancer Care Committee to improve the cancer outcome for First Nations in Yukon by jointly developing and meeting these objectives: ensuring equitable access to cancer screening,  increasing Yukon First Nations’ awareness of and participation in cancer screening, and providing access to culturally-safe, trauma-informed cancer screening.
NT
  • Direct mailing of FIT to residents without going through a regular healthcare provider, as many people in NT do not have one.
  • Pictograph-based instructions to minimize language and literacy issues.
  • Feedback from community members around promotional material to help ensure it is culturally appropriate.
  • Promotional materials translated into local Indigenous languages.
NU –
BC
  • Indigenous Health Promotion Specialist staff travels to Indigenous communities to build relationships, identify partnerships, and engage directly with community members to understand barriers to screening.
  • Multi-year partnership with First Nations Health Authority to engage Indigenous populations to understand and address barriers to screening.
  • Targeted awareness and education campaigns that are culturally appropriate.
AB
  • Via work supported by the Cancer Prevention and Screening Innovation team, community navigator and leaders have been used to identify community interest in cancer screening and community-specific strategies.
SK
  • Primary prevention and early detection teams have built relationships with Indigenous communities over the course of many years. SK is invited to events around the province to provide information and increase awareness for their screening programs. Through small group and one-on-one interactions, they are better able to understand barriers facing communities while improving understanding and comfort with participating in screening.
MB
  • Continued engagement with community leaders, Indigenous Services Canada, Service Delivery Organizations, travelling physician and nursing groups, and Health Directors and Community Health nurses with the goal to improve participation amongst Indigenous Peoples.
ON
  • The Indigenous Cancer Care Unit (ICCU) has a number of culturally appropriate educational resources for Indigenous communities related to colorectal cancer screening including Cancer Screening Fact Sheets, Cancer 101 Toolkit and awareness/postcards. Resources were designed and tailored with and for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
  • Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) developed a Cancer 101 video for First Nations people. This video gives basic cancer information and answers many common questions about cancer. Other groups that helped make the video are CAREX Canada, the Occupational Cancer Research Centre and the Canadian Cancer Society.
  • The Screening Activity Report (SAR) is an online report, which provides screening data to help family doctors improve their cancer screening rates and appropriate follow-up. The report allows family doctors to quickly find specific cancer screening information for each patient, including those who are overdue or have never been screened. In June 2018, the SAR was expanded to the Sioux Lookout Zone, providing non-patient enrollment model physicians and nurses who provide care to First Nations communities in the region access to their community data. This SAR was developed specifically for the Sioux Lookout municipality and the 27 First Nations communities that reside in the Sioux Lookout Zone.
  • The ICCU advocates to the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program to ensure transportation to cancer screening services are covered.
  • Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) partnered with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, Indigenous Services Canada, LifeLabs and the Ontario Ministry of Health to improve access to colorectal cancer screening with FIT in Sioux Lookout and Area (SLA) communities. On April 2022, OHIP acceptance criteria was expanded to enable OHIP eligible individuals with invalid OHIP health cards access to FIT. As of March 2023, nursing stations and health centres in SLA have FIT kits-on-hand to provide to participants who are eligible for colorectal cancer screening with FIT.
QC
NB
NS
  • Education sessions.
PE
  • Translation of brochures for colorectal cancer screening.
  • Awareness of cancer screening programs is often facilitated through the Indigenous-based health care and service organizations that community members interact with.
  • Support for attending wellness days in Indigenous communities to promote cancer screening (e.g., “Pap and Pamper” sessions that combine screening tests on-site with spa treatments, providing a welcoming environment for community members and friends or family).
  • Workshopping a “blanket exercise” to learn about culture, barriers, and expectations and to connect with Indigenous-based health care and services.
NL
  • The program seeks to work with Indigenous partners to reduce barriers to cancer screening through engagement and consultation.
  • The program collaborates with navigators, community, and healthcare leaders to provide information and materials specific to the needs of Indigenous communities.
  • Some program materials have been translated into Inuit and Innu languages.
  • Development of wordless instructions for FIT kits.
  • Seeking opportunities to speak with screening positive colon clients about the importance of participation in other screening programs.
  • Cancer screening programs have also proposed that a nurse practitioner can help with service delivery to clients who do not have a PCP.

– No information was provided at the time data were collected.

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