Monitoring BreastScreen Australia
The performance of a population‑based cancer screening program such as BreastScreen Australia needs to be assessed as it relates to the underlying aims of the program. At the national level, this is achieved by reporting data against a series of performance indicators to allow screening outcomes to be monitored, and positive and negative trends identified early.
This report presents national data for BreastScreen Australia, using performance indicators developed and endorsed by the former National Screening Information Advisory Group and by jurisdictional BreastScreen programs.
Data for performance indicators 1–6 (Participation, Rescreening, Recall to assessment, Invasive breast cancer detection, DCIS detection, Interval cancers and Program Sensitivity) are sourced from the BreastScreen register in each state and territory. These data are compiled into national figures by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) to allow national monitoring of BreastScreen Australia.
For more information about the data sources used in this report, see Appendix C.
Different policies across state and territory BreastScreen programs affects breast cancer detection rates, recall to assessment rates and interval cancer rates. Breast cancer detection and interval cancer rates will be impacted by the jurisdictions policies related to screening clients with symptoms, as well as policies related to annual screening.