In this pilot study, 30 Māori health workers were interviewed about their experience with screening programmes, knowledge of colorectal cancer and their perspective on a potential colorectal screening programme. This perspective was informed by both their own whānau and whānau they encountered professionally through their health work. While participants were largely positive about potential colorectal screening, various access barriers that they identified included patient-clinician engagement and communication, lack of provision for patient’s privacy during screening and patients feeling discouraged to take part in screening. Factors enabling screening included having an established relationship with their General Practitioner, screening clinicians taking time to build rapport, answer questions and share information, screening practices that were inclusive of Māori cultural norms and having high health literacy.
