The Wequedong Lodge Cancer Screening Program: implementation of an opportunistic cancer screening pilot program for residents of rural and remote Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada
Introduction: The rural and remote nature of many First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada poses unique obstacles to physically accessing health care, in addition to other barriers. Indigenous peoples face similar challenges globally. First Nations communities experience signific...
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James Cook University
2020-02-01
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Series: | Rural and Remote Health |
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Online Access: | https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/5576/ |
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Article |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sara Chow Susan Bale Fred Sky Shannon Wesley Lauren Beach Sarah Hyett Tarja Heiskanen Kelly-Jo Gillis Cathy Paroschy Harris |
spellingShingle |
Sara Chow Susan Bale Fred Sky Shannon Wesley Lauren Beach Sarah Hyett Tarja Heiskanen Kelly-Jo Gillis Cathy Paroschy Harris The Wequedong Lodge Cancer Screening Program: implementation of an opportunistic cancer screening pilot program for residents of rural and remote Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada Rural and Remote Health Canada cancer screening Indigenous health services Indigenous populations. |
author_facet |
Sara Chow Susan Bale Fred Sky Shannon Wesley Lauren Beach Sarah Hyett Tarja Heiskanen Kelly-Jo Gillis Cathy Paroschy Harris |
author_sort |
Sara Chow |
title |
The Wequedong Lodge Cancer Screening Program: implementation of an opportunistic cancer screening pilot program for residents of rural and remote Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada |
title_short |
The Wequedong Lodge Cancer Screening Program: implementation of an opportunistic cancer screening pilot program for residents of rural and remote Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada |
title_full |
The Wequedong Lodge Cancer Screening Program: implementation of an opportunistic cancer screening pilot program for residents of rural and remote Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada |
title_fullStr |
The Wequedong Lodge Cancer Screening Program: implementation of an opportunistic cancer screening pilot program for residents of rural and remote Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Wequedong Lodge Cancer Screening Program: implementation of an opportunistic cancer screening pilot program for residents of rural and remote Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada |
title_sort |
wequedong lodge cancer screening program: implementation of an opportunistic cancer screening pilot program for residents of rural and remote indigenous communities in northwestern ontario, canada |
publisher |
James Cook University |
series |
Rural and Remote Health |
issn |
1445-6354 |
publishDate |
2020-02-01 |
description |
Introduction: The rural and remote nature of many First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada poses unique obstacles to physically accessing health care, in addition to other barriers. Indigenous peoples face similar challenges globally. First Nations communities experience significant health inequities, including cancer burden, which can be attributed to complex factors associated with colonization and Westernization. One potentially promising intervention to decrease the burden of advanced cancers is the provision of accessible, convenient and culturally sensitive cancer screening services, leading to early detection and treatment. The Wequedong Lodge Cancer Screening Program (WLCSP) was a pilot project aiming to provide cancer screening education and opportunistic cancer screening to residents from rural and remote First Nations communities while accessing health services in the urban center of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Methods: Cancer screening education and opportunistic breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening appointments were offered to individuals and their travel escorts already staying at Wequedong Lodge. Program uptake was determined primarily by education participation, and secondarily by client participation in screening.
Results: In total, the WLCSP booked 1033 appointments, with 841 being attended. Over the program's 3 years there was an increase in clients each year. Specifically, 22% (60/275) of age-eligible women completed a mammogram. Pap tests were provided to 8% (45/554) of age-eligible females. Finally, 32% (106/333) of all age-eligible service participants were given a fecal occult blood test kit. An evaluation survey (n=396) demonstrated overall client satisfaction with the program.
Conclusion: The WLCSP aimed to provide education about, access to and uptake of cancer screening services for First Nations people from rural and remote communities in Northwestern Ontario by targeting inequalities in accessing cancer screening opportunities. Therefore, program uptake may provide helpful numerical comparisons for similar future programs globally. Other entities working to improve cancer screening rates in remote and/or rural populations and/or amongst Indigenous peoples may find consideration of the WLCSP processes, successes and challenges helpful to their efforts.
|
topic |
Canada cancer screening Indigenous health services Indigenous populations. |
url |
https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/5576/ |
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doaj-faebbe7e855c40edb2dfe3f53622666c2021-04-15T04:01:04ZengJames Cook UniversityRural and Remote Health1445-63542020-02-012010.22605/RRH5576The Wequedong Lodge Cancer Screening Program: implementation of an opportunistic cancer screening pilot program for residents of rural and remote Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada Sara Chow0Susan Bale1Fred Sky2Shannon Wesley3Lauren Beach4Sarah Hyett5Tarja Heiskanen6Kelly-Jo Gillis7Cathy Paroschy Harris8Prevention and Screening Services Health Promotion and Communications Planner, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, 984 Oliver Road, Medical Centre Room 401, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6V4, CanadaThunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, 984 Oliver Road, Medical Centre Room 401, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6V4, CanadaWequedong Lodge, 435 Balmoral Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7C 5N4, CanadaPrevious address: Regional Indigenous Cancer Leader, Cancer Care Ontario. Current address: Faculty at Northern Ontario School of Medicine; and Aurora Family Health Clinic, 971 Carrick St., Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6L9, CanadaPrevention and Screening Services, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, 984 Oliver Road, Medical Centre Room 401, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6V4, CanadaPrevention and Screening Services, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, 984 Oliver Road, Medical Centre Room 401, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6V4, CanadaPrevention and Screening Services, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, 984 Oliver Road, Medical Centre Room 401, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6V4, CanadaPrevention and Screening Services, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, 984 Oliver Road, Medical Centre Room 401, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6V4, CanadaPrevention and Screening Services, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, 984 Oliver Road, Medical Centre Room 401, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6V4, Canada Introduction: The rural and remote nature of many First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada poses unique obstacles to physically accessing health care, in addition to other barriers. Indigenous peoples face similar challenges globally. First Nations communities experience significant health inequities, including cancer burden, which can be attributed to complex factors associated with colonization and Westernization. One potentially promising intervention to decrease the burden of advanced cancers is the provision of accessible, convenient and culturally sensitive cancer screening services, leading to early detection and treatment. The Wequedong Lodge Cancer Screening Program (WLCSP) was a pilot project aiming to provide cancer screening education and opportunistic cancer screening to residents from rural and remote First Nations communities while accessing health services in the urban center of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Methods: Cancer screening education and opportunistic breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening appointments were offered to individuals and their travel escorts already staying at Wequedong Lodge. Program uptake was determined primarily by education participation, and secondarily by client participation in screening. Results: In total, the WLCSP booked 1033 appointments, with 841 being attended. Over the program's 3 years there was an increase in clients each year. Specifically, 22% (60/275) of age-eligible women completed a mammogram. Pap tests were provided to 8% (45/554) of age-eligible females. Finally, 32% (106/333) of all age-eligible service participants were given a fecal occult blood test kit. An evaluation survey (n=396) demonstrated overall client satisfaction with the program. Conclusion: The WLCSP aimed to provide education about, access to and uptake of cancer screening services for First Nations people from rural and remote communities in Northwestern Ontario by targeting inequalities in accessing cancer screening opportunities. Therefore, program uptake may provide helpful numerical comparisons for similar future programs globally. Other entities working to improve cancer screening rates in remote and/or rural populations and/or amongst Indigenous peoples may find consideration of the WLCSP processes, successes and challenges helpful to their efforts. https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/5576/Canadacancer screeningIndigenous health servicesIndigenous populations. |