CASE STUDY: METHODOLOGY IN BUILDING INFORMATION AND EDUCATION RESOURCES FOR A NATIONAL SCREENING PROGRAM Supporting participation paramount in the upcoming National Lung Cancer Screening Program
With
Dr Rachael Dodd
Senior Research Fellow,
The Daffodil Centre, a Cancer Council NSW & The University of Sydney Joint Venture
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH JOURNAL CASE STUDY
Filmed in Sydney | April 2025
At the recent Screening Conference 2025 in Sydney, hosted by Public Health Association, Dr Rachael Dodd, Senior Research Fellow at The Daffodil Centre, spoke about the information and educational resources created to increase awareness in the healthcare workforce and community on the upcoming Australia’s National Lung Cancer Screening Program commencing in July 2025.
A consortium including The Daffodil Centre, Lung Foundation Australia, Cancer Council Victoria and University of Melbourne were engaged by the Australian Government, through Cancer Australia to deliver a suite of information materials, workforce education resources, and a dissemination strategy for the Program, seen as paramount to support participation.
Dr Dodd talked to Australian Health Journal about the qualitative research process over the past 6 years, from a scoping review of existing lung cancer screening (LCS) information materials and messaging and an environmental scan of existing cancer screening program resources to inform initial development of the key messages, proposed information resources and the dissemination strategy. These were further developed through individual interviews and co-design workshops with the healthcare workforce and community members.
The scoping review identified 34 articles reporting strategies to increase awareness and knowledge of LCS. The environmental scan found 13 provider-focused resources and 18 consumer-focused resources across Australian screening programs. Most LCS-specific resources (18 sets) were from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore.
Key ideas arising from the consultations (28 community; 35 health workforce) and co-design workshops (2 health workforce (n=41), 1 community (n=18)) were the need for: clear information about eligibility criteria, a pack-year smoking calculator, easy-to-read detail about the National Cancer Screening Register, examples of symptoms of lung cancer, clarity on referral pathways, a centralised website to host resources, videos of the screening process, guidance for ineligible participants, and managing conversations including smoking behaviours, and lung cancer stigma. Digital resources were generally preferred to paper resources.
Source: Adapted from Screening Conference 2025 Abstract Book
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HIGHLIGHTS The power of social determinants of health, panel discussion
Clinicians and consumers know only too well that life circumstances such as poor housing, income and food insecurity can have a negative impact on health outcomes. Conversely, participation in community activities, social connection and access to nature parks and leisure facilities can help maintain health and wellbeing.
More recent phenomena in public health have also focused us on the health and social care connection. Stress factors such as the sudden loss of employment and social interaction, moving to remote work or schooling, and the impacts of sudden, localised COVID-19 ‘lockdowns’ to prevent further outbreaks were triggers of increased psychological distress.
And loneliness is being described as our latest epidemic with chronic loneliness inked to a myriad of health problems and earlier death. A recent report found one in four Australians say they feel persistently lonely, and that loneliness costs $2.7 bn a year in health costs alone.
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1 million Australians with undiagnosed thyroid disorders remain at risk of irreparable damage
The Australian Thyroid Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation with charity status aimed at patients and the healthcare community. The ATF’s focus is to support and educate its member base and promote our Good Thyroid Health Messaging throughout the Australian Community.
Australian Thyroid Foundation, CEO Beverley Garside attending the breakfast gave her response to the Federal Budget and the Foundation’s pre-budget submission, which was not granted.
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Elevating Professional Standards in the Medtech and Pharmaceutical Sector
ARCS Australia Ltd, the peak body representing professionals in the MedTech and Pharmaceutical sector, this week announced a series of significant changes at its annual conference.
Dr Tim Boyle, CEO of ARCS Australia Ltd speaking to Australian Health Journal says, “These initiatives are central to strategy to build professionalism within the sector, increase capability and enhance the professional standing of its members.”
