Immigrants, cancer screening, incidence and survival

Register-based studies have revealed differences in cancer incidence and survival between immigrant groups and non-immigrants in Norway. Participation of immigrant groups in cancer screening has been examined in several studies. Based on data from 1996-2015, participation rate in BreastScreen Norway was an average of 76% among non-immigrants versus 53% among immigrants, with the lowest rate among Somali women (13.5%). Participation rate in CervicalScreen Norway in 2008-2012 was 69% among non-immigrants versus 50% among immigrants. Participation rate in the pilot project for ColorectalScreen Norway in 2012-2017 was 60% for faecal screening test and 53% for sigmoidoscopy in non-immigrants, 58% and 48% in western immigrants and 37% and 23% in non-western immigrants, respectively. Several qualitative studies have investigated attitudes and perceptions towards screening and reasons for non-participation in the three cancer screening programs in Pakistani, Eastern European and specifically Polish immigrants. In an RCT, no differences in participation were observed for immigrants who received invitation in their language of origin and Norwegian versus Norwegian only. We are currently performing a study testing the effect of a reminder phone call in the language of origin on participation in ColorectalScreen Norway in Pakistani and Somalian immigrants in an RCT.

Link to more detailed information: ImmigrantScreen