Lung screening in Canada, 2023-24

Screening experience for First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis

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Engagement strategies include community engagement, 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
NT
NU
BC Lung screening is a component of an awareness and community engagement campaign that is being delivered in partnership with First Nations Health Authority. This includes inclusion of lung screening within a community engagement toolkit, and active promotion of lung screening during direct community outreach efforts (e.g., community health events, presentations).
AB
  • Delivered multiple presentations to different stakeholder groups, including time for questions and discussion.
  • Holding key stakeholder interviews.
  • Building relationships with community champions.
SK The governance structure supports community members to have opportunity for input and to participate in co-designing program elements.
MB Relationship-building, meetings, and education sessions.
ON Through the Regional Cancer Programs, including the Regional Indigenous Cancer Leads, Indigenous Navigators, and Project Coordinators, along with the Indigenous Cancer Care Unit (ICCU) and Indigenous Tobacco Program, First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities are engaged to inform programs/initiatives to improve education and awareness of lung cancer screening. Provincial strategy includes development of recruitment resources including brochures available in English, French, Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Mohawk and Inuktitut. Brochures were developed in consultation with public advisors and translators from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate materials. Through relationships developed and fostered by the ICCU, regional teams continue working with communities as guided by the First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous Cancer Strategy.
QC Educational and awareness campaigns (e.g., social media), videos, and building ties with community leaders
NB NBCN anticipates continuing existing approach, as is done with colon, breast and cervical screening programs. Someone from First Nations community will participate in community advisory/working group.
NS
  • Membership with the Lung Screening Program steering committee and working groups.
  • Focus groups.
  • Partnering with Mi’kmaq First Nations health leaders and directors.
  • Will develop culturally-specific tools and tactics to encourage barrier-free access to the Lung Screening Program.
PE
NL

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
NT
NU
BC In consultation with First Nations Health Authority and community members, efforts have been made to address barriers in program materials, including:

  • Difficulty navigating the health system
  • Difficulty accessing the health system
  • Fear of cancer due to lack of knowledge
  • Misconceptions or negative attitudes toward testing
  • Low health literacy
  • Lack of culturally appropriate health promotion materials
  • Embarrassment, discomfort, or fear
  • Previous experiences of racism and/or discrimination
  • Lack of trust in the health system
AB
  • To address lack of culturally appropriate health promotion materials, Indigenous Wellness Core, primary care networks (PCN) reps, and patient and family advisors have reviewed resources to ensure they are culturally appropriate.
  • For those with previous experiences of racism and/or discrimination who lack trust in the health system, all Alberta Health Services (AHS) staff are now required by policy to complete Indigenous learning.
  • The two required learnings are part of the Required Organizational Learning (ROL) program and all staff must complete each course once:
    • Required Organizational Learning (ROL) – Indigenous People in Alberta Introduction
    • Required Organizational Learning (ROL) – Indigenous Awareness & Sensitivity Certification Program (complete in seven eLearning modules or attend three and a half-hour workshop)
  • Additional training is available and recommended for staff to complete. PCPs are also recommended to complete the training.
  • One of the program posters Alberta developed depicts a photo of an Indigenous person.
SK The Community Working Group is currently engaging communities to gain better understanding of the facilitators and barriers to participation, and this input will be incorporated into the program development.
MB
ON Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) sites are responsible for local recruitment and have developed various strategies to engage First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities within their regions, in partnership with Ontario Health’s Indigenous Cancer Care Unit (ICCU).

  • The ICCU continues to raise awareness with regional teams and community partners about medical transportation coverage available to eligible First Nations people and · Inuit through the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program for lung cancer screening.
  • Brochures and Participant Information Sheet were made available in French, Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Mohawk and Inuktitut.
  • Indigenous Navigators within the Regional Cancer Programs have been supporting Indigenous patients to navigate through lung cancer screening.
  • Community events (e.g., Health Fairs, Community Education Sessions) were held in-person to recruit and screen Indigenous people for lung cancer screening.
  • The ICCU is co-leading two research projects to understand barriers.
QC Quebec employs the following strategies:

  • Self referrals for unattached patients
  • GAP referral process for follow up on incidental findings
  • Collective prescription for coordination centre nurses to initiate screening process
  • Social media
NB
NS
  • Through consultation with First Nations health leaders and directors, we lowered the age of eligibility to 50 in acknowledgement of the expressed hesitancy in utilizing a race-based risk model, and also in recognition of the prevalence and early onset of smoking in this population.
  • In collaboration with Mi’kmaq First Nations, culturally appropriate materials will be developed for program participants. Planning for narrative materials (stories and videos) in the Mi’kmaq language.
PE
NL
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