Preferred language spoken at home
Australians who preferred to speak a language other than English at home had a lower participation rate than those who preferred to speak English. They experienced the same screening positivity rate; however, those with a positive screening result had a lower follow-up diagnostic assessment rate and longer median time between a positive screen and an assessment (Table 4.4).
Indicator | Summary of performance indicators for those who preferred language other than English at home compared with English speakers | LOTE | English |
|---|---|---|---|
PI 1 - Participation rate(a) | Lower participation rate | 24.3–31.1% | 44.0–46.8% |
PI 2 - Screening positivity rate | Same screening positivity rate | 6% | 6% |
PI 3 - Diagnostic assessment rate | Lower diagnostic assessment follow-up rate | 80% | 87% |
PI 4 - Time between positive screen and diagnostic assessment | Longer median time | 66 days | 62 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) Participation rates by preferred language spoken at home were estimated using 2021 Census proportions (see Table A4.1 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 2024. 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 preferred language spoken at home.
- 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: Census data; 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.