Photo courtesy of Northern Queensland Primary Health Network
The Northern Queensland Primary Health Network has employed AI in increasing bowel cancer screening participation amid growing cases among younger adults.
The local network is funding primary health practices' access to a Bowel Cancer Screening Bundle through Healthily's GoShare platform, which includes AI-generated voice calls and SMS reminders.
HOW IT WORKS
NQPHN explained that the AI-powered platform helps practices identify patients aged 45-49 (including those living in rural and remote communities) eligible for bowel cancer screening from their roster and deliver automated calls and SMS to invite them.
"Clinics upload lists of eligible patients into the GoShare platform and set up automated communication. Patients receive a personalised SMS with information about organising a health assessment and their eligibility for bowel screening," NQPHN CEO Ben Tooth explained to Mobihealth News.
"If there is no response, patients will receive a GoShare voice AI phone call, which will guide them through the process and answer any of their questions over the phone," he added.
NQPHN is currently working with Healthily to make the outbound calls and SMS reminders available in multiple languages, with an expected rollout by mid-2026. "This will ensure patients receive information in their preferred language and provide a more inclusive and accessible service," said Tooth.
WHY IT MATTERS
Based on NQPHN's Joint Regional Needs Assessment, about 35% of individuals in northern Queensland participated in bowel cancer screening in 2020-2021, which is slightly below the statewide average of 37.5%.
"Due to low rates of bowel cancer screening across our region, it was determined that the platform could be utilised to engage residents who may be unaware that they are eligible," Tooth explained.
"[W]e can expect to see an increase in cancer screening participation, reduced administration burden on practice staff, and a positive impact on patient health literacy and self-management," he added.
The platform can also promote early detection, which Tooth emphasised as "one of the most effective tools we have against bowel cancer."
THE LARGER CONTEXT
NQPHN's adoption of Healthily's GoShare platform began years ago through a pilot project to improve patient health literacy. Since then, it has been utilised for raising voluntary patient registrations for MyMedicare, chronic conditions recalls and reminders, COVID and pneumococcal immunisations, and First Nations health assessments.
The same platform has also been utilised to deliver COVID-related messages and provide support for people dealing with long COVID in other Australian regions.
Besides automated call and SMS outreach, Tooth noted that GP clinics in northern Queensland are also working with local health workers to personally reach residents across multicultural communities.
"Education is also provided through social media, local radio, and community events to raise awareness about early screening benefits," he added.
"NQPHN is addressing known barriers to screening in younger adults by ensuring convenience and access by promoting at-home testing kits, ensuring screening is free and accessible, and offering alternative contact methods such as landline calls and in-person outreach for those without mobile or internet access," the CEO further said.
