Colorectal screening in Canada, 2023-24
Initial colorectal screening referral strategies
All provinces and territories have strategies to refer people to colorectal screening. Many jurisdictions require a referral from a physician prior to distribution of a screening kit, while others distribute kits to eligible individuals with a mailed invitation letter or after an invitation letter has been sent. Participants can also access a screening kit by contacting some screening programs directly or requesting a test online.
Initial colorectal screening referral strategies
| P/T | Physician referral | Other healthcare provider referral(e.g., NP, community health nurse) | Self-referral | FIT kit distribution at public events | Referral through other screening programs | Mailed invitation letters | Kit automatically sent to participants | Referral through program website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| NT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓* | ||||
| NU | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| BC | ✓ | ✓^ | ||||||
| AB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓~ | ✓** | ✓ | |||
| SK | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| MB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| ON | ✓ | ✓‡ | ✓*** | ✓ | ||||
| QC^^ | ✓ | ✓# | ||||||
| NB | ✓ | |||||||
| NS | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| PE | ✓ | ✓+ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| NL | ✓ | ✓ | ✓‡‡ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
*NT: In regions where the organized screening program has been rolled out
^BC: NPs are the same as providers in BC and can order laboratory tests and refer to specialists. Tests need to be ordered by someone with a valid practitioner number, regardless of professional designation.
~AB: Clients can complete a self-assessment questionnaire online to determine eligibility. Individuals who meet FIT’s average risk criteria and are currently due for screening will be mailed a test directly to their home
**AB: Starting January 2022, Albertans receive a letter invitation to get screened when they turn 50
‡ON: NPs, Health Canada nurses at nursing stations, staff on mobile coaches
***ON: FIT kit can be requested by phone via Health811
^^QC: Currently working on expanding access to opportunistic screening for people who cannot easily see a PCP
#QC: Nurse
+PE: Any healthcare provider
‡‡NL: The program will accept self-referrals at public engagement events and mail a screening kit to clients