Role of GPs
GPs have both a clinical and administrative role in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
The Clinical role includes:
- Encouraging people invited to participate in the Program.
- Recommending participants:
- Complete the two samples as close in time as possible and send it as soon as possible
- Keep the samples in the fridge (NOT the freezer) between samples and until posting
- Take the completed sample envelope into the post office shop for posting, rather than leaving it in a post box outside.
- Assessing and referring patients with a positive FOBT for further examination, usually colonoscopy.
- Managing individuals that should be excluded in accordance with the NHMRC Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention, Early Detection and Management of Colorectal Cancer (2nd edition, December 2005). Reasons of exclusion may include:
- Significant symptoms
- Strong family history
- Previous diagnosis of bowel cancer or adenoma
- Recent colonoscopy or FOBT
- Co-morbidities
- Encouraging those over 50 years of age who are not eligible for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program to be screened for bowel cancer every two years. Either supply them with a referral for an FOBT at a pathology laboratory or provide them with an !nform FOBT.
The Administrative role includes:
- Attaching a National Bowel Cancer Screening Program participant sticker (provided in GP Information Kits) to colonoscopy referral letter, or flagging them as a 'NBCSP participant'.
- For participants with a positive FOBT, notifying the Register of referral/non-referral for examination using the assessment form (provided in GP Information Kits). An information payment of $6.60 will be received.
- Referring for colonoscopy by ‘business as usual’ pathway or Ambulatory Surgery Initiative (ASI). Keep in mind that ASI may have shorter waiting times.
