For individuals at risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), there are best practice guidelines on how frequently surveillance colonoscopy should be performed. These recall recommendations can be complex, and are determined by multiple clinical factors, resulting in guidelines that are not always adhered to; surveillance is often provided too frequently, increasing the burden on colonoscopy services and risks to patients; or not frequently enough (or not at all), increasing risk for CRC development. The Surgical and Perioperative Care Statewide Clinical Network (SPCSCN) see a need to reduce inconsistency in care between hospitals and providers, through a reliable and organised surveillance program that provides appropriate recall recommendations to individuals. This will ensure that the right person, gets the right care, at the right time.
Surveillance Colonoscopy Optimised Prevention via an E‑System (SCOPES) is a collaborative project that involves consumers, clinicians, and researchers from across South Australia, with representation from Local Health Networks (LHNs) and rural support services. The SCOPES project discovery commenced in 2021, under the expert guidance of the SCOPES working group, formed with the support of SPCSCN. It has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to develop a digital colonoscopy surveillance program. It will be the first organised digital surveillance program initiative of national relevance and applicability, using eHealth to provide optimal and equitable clinical care for people at risk of colorectal cancer. It will improve health care delivery through increased efficiency and provide a cost-effective way to manage the large number of colonoscopies, through improved compliance with national guidelines for how often procedures should be completed. It will ensure all patients receive equitable, evidenced-based care thereby achieving a reduction in the incidence of CRC. The development of research infrastructure through an Australian data registry of colonoscopy outcomes along with patient demographics and survey measures will provide a valuable data resource to facilitate research into risk factors for cancer and determine optimal prevention activity.
The project is currently led by Flinders University. It is expected to be completed in 2028.
If you are interested to find out more about this project, contact us at CEIH.SurgicalPerioperative@sa.gov.au.