The Co-Design of an Evidence-Based Health Education Strategy to Improve Bowel Cancer Awareness and Screening in a Remote Tasmanian Community: Lessons Learned.

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Generally, bowel cancer screening rates are lower in rural/remote Australia (40.6% major cities; 25.3% very remote areas, 2020-21). Rural/remote Tasmanians may need increased awareness to encourage screening, with recent decreased screening rates. This study aimed to co-design a health education strategy to improve bowel cancer awareness/screening in remote Tasmania.

METHODS

A co-design method was used to conduct two group workshops with 17 participants (14 community members, three healthcare providers). Workshops were guided by previous interviews with the community. Workshop one: participants chose the top three screening barriers and designed interventions to overcome them. These interventions were collated and presented to participants in workshop two. Participants shared ideas to refine interventions, then completed an acceptability, feasibility and appropriateness questionnaire of the overall strategy. Data was collected via written notes and analysed through content analysis.

RESULTS

A health education strategy with two components and multiple interventions was developed: local media campaign (signage, video, bookmark, flyer, poster) and community health education events. Events included community champions sharing personal stories and healthcare providers providing clinical information. Participants identified the strategy as feasible, appropriate and acceptable for a rural/remote Tasmanian community. Following workshops, strategy components were developed in collaboration with the community.

CONCLUSIONS

Large scale strategies which may be effective for metropolitan areas of Australia may not be accepted by or appropriate for those in rural/remote areas. Remote community members valued local relevance and community involvement. SO WHAT?: If successful, the health education strategy could be implemented across rural/remote Tasmania to raise awareness/encourage screening.