Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Prevalence of, and factors associated with, self-reported kit non-receipt in the Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program  (145251)

Katelyn Collins 1 2 3 , Jennifer McIntosh 4 5 , Belinda Goodwin 1 4 6 , Emma Pearse 1 , Nicole Perry 1 , Nancy Baxter 7 , Carlene Wilson 8 , Joyce Jiang 9 , Finlay Macrae 9 10 11 , Eleonora Feletto 12 , Jon Emery 9 13 , Mark Jenkins 3 9
  1. Viertel Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia
  2. School of Psychology and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, QLD, Australia
  3. Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  4. Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  5. Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  6. School of Psychology and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, QLD, Australia
  7. Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  8. Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  9. Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  10. Colorectal Medicine and Genetics, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  11. Genomic Medicine and Family Cancer Clinic, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  12. Cancer Elimination Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  13. Population and Global Health, LKC Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Aims: Population bowel cancer screening saves lives, but some Australians may not receive a screening kit from the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP). This study estimated the proportion of eligible Australians who report not receiving a screening kit and identified associated sociodemographic factors. 

Methods: Australians aged 51–74 participated in two online surveys (Survey 1, n=632; Survey 2, n=896). In a secondary analysis of this data, we estimated the proportion of individuals who reported never receiving a kit (Survey 1) and not receiving one in the past two years (Survey 2). Logistic regression identified factors associated with higher odds of kit receipt.  

Results: Approximately 6% (95% CI: 3.8–8.2%) reported never receiving a kit, and 15% (95% CI: 12.7–17.3%) reported not receiving one in the past two years. Those with outdated Medicare address information were less likely to report ever receiving a kit. Older adults and those with outdated Medicare addresses were also less likely to report receiving a kit in the past two years. 

Conclusions: A proportion of the population report failing to receive a screening kit. Lapsed address information may increase risk of kit non-receipt.  Public health messaging encouraging eligible invitees to update their Medicare address should be considered to improve screening access.