Colorectal cancer screening in Canada: 2021/2022
Strategies to improve screening for LGBTQ2S+ people
LGBTQ2S+ people may have additional barriers in accessing or participating in colorectal cancer screening, including stigma. Examples of LGBTQ2S+ may include gay or lesbian individuals, transgender people, non-binary people, two spirit people, as well as many other identities.
Four provinces and one territory have strategies which they employ to improve screening participation in these populations. Most of the strategies have been co-developed with the community. Inclusive language and educational materials (i.e. webinars and training) are two examples of strategies used.
Strategies to improve screening for LGBTQ2S+ people
| P/T | Intended audiences | Intervention/strategy used | Strategy co-developed with community? | Description of activities to improve screening for LGBTQ2S+ people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YT | · LGBTQ2S community | · Overview of organizations in the territory supports LGBTQ2S community | · ColonCheck Disparity Report · Putting Peoples First Report · Collaborating with outreach organizations |
|
| ON | · Non-binary and gender diverse people · Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) staff |
1. Overarching Policy for the ‘Screening of Trans People in the Ontario Breast Screening Program and the Ontario Cervical Screening Program’ 2. Educational webinars |
1. ✓^ 2. ✓~ |
· Newly developed program resources in the ColonCancerCheck Program will include gender-neutral and inclusive language (e.g., referring to “people” as opposed to “men and women”); older materials are in the process of being updated · Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) staff participated in webinars on better serving LGBTQ2S+ community in healthcare and cancer screening (i.e., access, eligibility) |
| NB | · General public | · Inclusive language | · Reviewing and adapting program correspondence, materials and media for more inclusive language and images. | |
| PE | · PEER Alliance PE · LGBTQ2S+ People |
· Health PEI committee group | · Meetings around healthcare needs not specific for screening | |
| NL | · Development of wordless instructions to be used throughout the screening program · Provision of program promotional and education materials to encourage program participation · Engagement with primary care professionals to encourage clients’ referrals · Collaboration and engagement with health clinics that serve members of the LGBTQ2S+ community |
*Quebec does not have an organized screening program available so there are no concerted strategies in place. Each health institution is responsible for implementing the appropriate strategies to reach out to the population it serves.
ON:^ Advocates, experts, and community members with expertise in better serving the LGBTQ2S+ community in healthcare were involved in the development of the policy.
ON:~ Delivered by Rainbow Health Ontario.