Cervical screening in Canada, 2023-24
Cervical screening recruitment methods in Canada
Six provinces use initial letters of invitation as a recruitment method for their cervical screening programs. In Newfoundland and Labrador, invitation letters are pending, and in Manitoba a letter of invitation is sent to eligible but never-screened individuals. The British Columbia program leverages recall notices when participants are due to screen again.
Cervical screening recruitment strategies
| Province/Territory | Recruitment strategy |
|---|---|
| YT* | No organized screening program available |
| NT | No organized screening program available |
| NU | No organized screening program available |
| BC | Provincial awareness and advertising Recall notices are sent to participants when due to screen again |
| AB | Initial letter of invitation |
| SK | Initial letter of invitation Reminder after invitation letter is sent six months from date of initial invitation letter |
| MB | A letter of invitation is sent to eligible^ participants that have never been screened Recall letters are sent to people in three years if they are due and eligible to return Reminder letters are sent two months after an invite or recall if no Pap has taken place |
| ON | Letter of invitation and reminder is sent in four months to non-responders Recall letters are sent to people in three years. |
| QC | No organized screening program available |
| NB | Initial and reminder letter of invitation to eligible population are combined with social media awareness promotion campaigns |
| NS | N/A |
| PE | N/A |
| NL | Cervical Screening Initiatives Program seeks to create awareness and promote access to cervical cancer screening throughout NL. This is achieved through engagement strategies and provision of access to service grants for PCPs. An Invitation process is being considered for future initiatives. |
*YT: YT plans to provide letters of invitation.
^MB: A person is eligible to receive an invitation letter if they are a Manitoba resident who has been in the CervixCheck registry for a minimum of five years and has no Pap test or colposcopy records, no record of a total hysterectomy, and no record of invasive gynecological cancer.