Disability status
Australians with severe or profound disability experienced a higher screening positivity rate, yet had a lower follow-up diagnostic assessment rate, and a longer median time between a positive screen and an assessment than those not reporting such limitation (Table 4.5).
Indicator | Summary of performance indicators for those with severe or profound disability compared with those without severe or profound disability | Severe or profound activity limitation reported | No severe or profound activity limitation reported |
|---|---|---|---|
PI 1 - Participation rate(a) | Comparison not published | n.p. | n.p. |
PI 2 - Screening positivity rate | Higher screening positivity rate | 11% | 6% |
PI 3 - Diagnostic assessment rate | Lower diagnostic assessment follow-up rate | 70% | 88% |
PI 4 - Time between positive screen and diagnostic assessment | Longer median time | 81 days | 61 days |
PI 9 - Adverse events –hospital admission | Comparison not published | n.p. | n.p. |
PI 10 - Incidence of bowel cancer(b) | Comparison not available | n.a. | n.a. |
PI 11 - Mortality from bowel cancer(b) | Comparison not available | n.a. | n.a. |
(a) Estimates of participation rates by disability status could not be reported in the current report due to changes in completeness of disability status information in the NCSR (see Appendix A and Appendix C for more information).
(b) Data for this indicator are not available.
Notes:
- The participation indicator PI 1 is reported against the period 2022–2023 with follow-up to June 2023. The screening indicator PI 2 is reported against the period 2023. The assessment indicators PIs 3 and 4 are reported against the period 2023 with follow-up to 31 December 2024. Incidence and mortality data are not currently available for reporting by disability status.
- Indicators PI 3–9 rely on information being reported back to the NCSR (ACSQHC 2020). As this NBCSP form return is not mandated by the NBCSP, there may be incomplete form return and incomplete data. However, Participant follow-up function (PFUF) data are now used to supplement missing colonoscopy form data and MBS claims.
- PI 5a (adenoma detection rate), PI 5b (PPV of diagnostic assessment for detecting adenoma), PI 6a (bowel cancer detection rate), PI 6b (PPV of diagnostic assessment for detecting bowel cancer), PI 7 (interval cancer rate), and PI 8 (cancer clinico-pathological stage distribution) are not reported due to data incompleteness or unavailability.
Sources: AIHW analysis of NCSR as at 31 December 2024 (NCSR RDE 13/01/2025).
References
ACSQHC (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care) (2020) Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Sydney, accessed 14 May 2025.