Supplementary data: Saskatchewan

This page provides data visualizations related to the priorities for Canada’s cancer system.

Download the data tables and technical appendix for all indicators.

Priority 1 Action 1: Help people to stop smoking or not start in the first place and live healthier lives

Topic: Keeping people smoke-free
Title of image: Percentage of individuals in SK (aged ≥ 12) classified as daily or occasional smokers
Caveats/limitations:

  • This indicator was reported using the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS).
  • Individuals who did not respond to the required CCHS questions regarding smoking status were not included in the analysis.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations and response rates for this survey.

SK: 16% in 2020, and 12.6% in 2021. Canada: 12.9% in 2020, and 11.8% in 2021.Data source: Canadian Community Health Survey

Topic: Keeping people smoke-free
Title of image: Percentage of males in SK (aged ≥ 18) classified as daily or occasional smokers , by income quintile
Caveats/limitations:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations and response rates for this survey.
  • Interpret with caution owing to large variability in the 2021 estimates.

Quintile 1: 19.6% in 2019, and 24.6% in 2021. Quintile 2: 18.1% in 2019, and 16.1% in 2021. Quintile 3: 27.6% in 2019, and 15.6% in 2021. Quintile 4: 14.8% in 2019, and 11.9% in 2021. Quintile 5: 14.8% in 2019, and 11.9% in 2021.

Data source: Canadian Community Health Survey

Topic: Keeping people smoke-free
Title of image: Percentage of females in SK (aged ≥ 18) classified as daily or occasional smokers, by income quintile
Caveats/limitations:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations and response rates for this survey.
  • Interpret with caution owing to large variability in the 2021 estimates .

Quintile 1: 26.5% in 2019, and 14.8% in 2021. Quintile 2: 24.8% in 2019, and 15.2% in 2021. Quintile 3: 17.8% in 2019, and 13.2% in 2021. Quintile 4: 14% in 2019, and 10.4% in 2021. Quintile 5: 8.4% in 2019, and 5.2% in 2021.Data source: Canadian Community Health Survey

Topic: Keeping people smoke-free
Title of image: Percentage of males in SK (aged ≥ 18) classified as daily or occasional smokers , by highest level of education
Caveats/limitations:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations and response rates for this survey.
  • Interpret with caution owing to large variability in the 2021 estimates.

Less than secondary school graduation: 40.5% in 2019, and 26.9% in 2021. Secondary school graduation, no post-secondary education: 14.6% in 2019, and 20.4% in 2021. Post-secondary certificate or diploma, or university degree: 15% in 2019, and 10.6% in 2021.

Data source: Canadian Community Health Survey

Topic: Keeping people smoke-free
Title of image: Percentage of females in SK (aged ≥ 18) classified as daily or occasional smokers, by highest level of education
Caveats/limitations:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations and response rates for this survey.
  • Interpret with caution owing to large variability in the 2021 estimates.

Less than secondary school education: 19.5% in 2019, and 16.6% in 2021. Secondary school education: 22.6% in 2019, and 14.6% in 2021.Data source: Canadian Community Health Survey

Topic: Maintaining healthy body weight
Title of image: Percentage of individuals in SK (aged ≥ 18) classified as overweight or obese
Caveats/limitations:

  • This indicator was reported using the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and is based on self-reported data. Overall obesity and overweight percentages are reported using 2019 data. Percentages by income quintile and/or sex are reported using 2017-2018 data.
  • Individuals who did not respond to the required CCHS questions to derive the BMI classifications were not included in the analysis.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations and response rates for this survey.

SK: 72.7% in 2019, and 69.9% in 2021. Canada: 65.9% in 2019, and 64.7% in 2021.

Data source: Canadian Community Health Survey

Topic: Maintaining healthy body weight
Title of image: Percentage of individuals in SK (aged ≥ 18) classified as overweight or obese, by sex
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations and response rates for this survey.

Males: 78.7% in 2017-2018, and 73.7% in 2021. Females: 66.4% in 2017-2018, and 65.7% in 2021.Data source: Canadian Community Health Survey

Topic: Maintaining healthy body weight
Title of image: Percentage of males in SK (aged ≥ 18) classified as overweight or obese, by income quintile
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations and response rates for this survey.

Quintile 1: 69.8% in 2017-2018, and 65.5% in 2021. Quintile 2: 75.6% in 2017-2018, and 68.7% in 2021. Quintile 3: 75.8% in 2017-2018, and 76.3% in 2021. Quintile 4: 82.9% in 2017-2018, and 79.7% in 2021. Quintile 5: 82.4% in 2017-2018, and 74.6% in 2021.

Data source: Canadian Community Health Survey

Topic: Maintaining healthy body weight
Title of image: Percentage of females in SK (aged ≥ 18) classified as overweight or obese, by income quintile
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations and response rates for this survey.

Quintile 1: 64% in 2017-2018, and 66.9% in 2021. Quintile 2: 67.8% in 2017-2018, and 64.6% in 2021. Quintile 3: 67.8% in 2017-2018, and 65.9% in 2021. Quintile 4: 64.7% in 2017-2018, and 67.3% in 2021. Quintile 5: 67.7% in 2017-2018, and 63.9% in 2021.

Data source: Canadian Community Health Survey

Priority 1 Action 2: Adopt proven practices known to reduce the risk of cancer

Topic: Increasing HPV vaccination
Title of image: Percentage of female Grade 6 students in SK who received final dose of HPV vaccination in the 2017 school year
Caveats/limitations: HPV vaccination rates for male Grade 6 students were not available.
Females 69.1%Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Priority 2 Action 1: Prioritize rapid access to appropriate diagnosis for those suspected of having cancer

Topic: Reducing wait for diagnosis
Title of image: Time (in days) from last read date to diagnosis of breast cancer
Caveats/limitations:

  • Includes only those who were screen detected through the Screening Program for Breast Cancer.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Median was 25 days in 2019, and 23 days in 2020. 90th percentile was 69 days in 2019, and 59 days in 2020.Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Reducing wait for diagnosis
Title of image: Time (in days) from last read date to diagnosis of breast cancer, by age group
Caveats/limitations:

  • Includes only those who were screen detected through the Screening Program for Breast Cancer.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Median number of days: For age 50 to 59 it was 24 days in 2019, and 24 days in 2020. For age 60 to 69, it was 28 days in 2019, and 22 days in 2020. For age 70 to 79, it was 22 days in 2019, and 23 days in 2020. 90th percentile number of days: For age 50 to 59, it was 48 days in 2019, and 48 days in 2020. For age 60 to 69, it was 77 days in 2019, and 64 days in 2020. For age 70 to 79, it was 53 days in 2019, and 57 days in 2020.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Diagnosing cancer earlier
Title of image: Proportion of stage 4 diagnosis in SK
Caveats/limitations:

  • Actual data by stage was not available for 2018. Average stage distribution from 2013-2017 was applied to the 2018 case counts for each cancer type to estimate stage distribution in 2018.
  • Stage data not available for bladder and melanoma due to implementation of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th Edition.

Lung: 2018: 49.5%. 2019: 18.7%. Colorectal: 2018: 20.3% 2019: 10.1%. Bladder: 2018: 10.5%. 2019: there is no data. Melanoma: 2018; 7.4%. 2019: there is no data.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Priority 2 Action 2: Strengthen existing screening efforts and implement lung cancer screening programs across the country

Topic: Increasing participation in colorectal cancer screening
Title of image: Percentage of individuals who had FIT test in past two years (2018-2019) and/or colonoscopy in the past seven years (2013-2019), by age group
Overall age 50 to 74 at 59.3%. Age 50 to 54 at 54.2%. Age 55 to 59 at 49.9%. Age 60 to 64 at 63.8%. Age 65 to 69 t 61.5%. Age 70 to 74 at 74.4%.Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Increasing participation in colorectal cancer screening
Title of image: Percentage of individuals who had FIT test in past two years (2018-2019) and/or colonoscopy in the past seven years (2013-2019), by age group and sex

Overall (age 50 to 74): Male 57.6%, Female 61.1%. 50 to 54 years: Male 51.3%, Female 57.2%. 55 to 59 years: Male 47.6%, Female 52.2%. 60 to 64 years: Male 61.9%, Female 65.8%. 65 to 69 years: Male 61.1%, Female 61.9%. 70 to 74 years: Male 74.5%, Female 74.3%.Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Priority 3 Action 2: Eliminate low-benefit practices and adopt high-value practices

Topic: Optimizing care at end of life
Title of image: Percentage of patients with cancer who died and received an IV or subcutaneous cancer drug treatment within 14 days of death
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

2019: 5.7%. 2020: 4.1%.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Optimizing care at end of life
Title of image: Percentage of patients with cancer who died and received an IV or subcutaneous cancer drug treatment within 14 days of death, by sex
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Males: 5.9% in 2019, and 4.4% in 2020. Females: 5.7% in 2019, and 3.7% in 2020.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Optimizing care at end of life
Title of image: Percentage of patients with cancer who died and received an IV or subcutaneous cancer drug treatment within 14 days of death, by age group
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Age 18-59: 8.8% in 2019, 6% in 2020. Age 60-69: 7.9% in 2019, 6.5% in 2020. Age 70-79: 6.1% in 2019, 4.7% in 2020. Age 80 and over: 1.7% in 2019, and for 2020, the data is suppressed owing to small numbers.

*Suppressed owing to small numbers
Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Optimizing care at end of life
Title of image: Percentage of patients with cancer who died and received an IV or subcutaneous cancer drug treatment within 14 days of death, by cancer type
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Breast: 6.6% in 2019, and 4.4% in 2020. Colorectal: 4.4% in 2019, and in 2020, data is suppressed owing to small numbers. Lung: 9.2% in 2019, and 4.1% in 2020. Hematological: 10.4% in 2019, and 5.9% in 2020. All other cancers: 2.7% in 2019, and 3.7% in 2020.*Suppressed owing to small numbers.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Optimizing care at end of life
Title of image: Percentage of type of systemic therapy received by patients with cancer who died and received an IV or subcutaneous cancer drug treatment within 14 days of death
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Chemotherapy only: 65.3% in 2019, and 67.8% in 2020. Targeted therapy only: 11.6% in 2019, and 10.2% in 2020. Immunotherapy only: 15.8% in 2019, and 13.6% in 2020. Chemotherapy and targeted therapy: 8.4% in 2019, and 8.5% in 2020.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Optimizing screening and appropriate follow-up
Title of image: Percentage of people with a cervix in SK aged 18-24 among those who received a Pap test in 2019

Age 18-20 years: 1.1%. Age 21-24 years: 7.8%.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Priority 3 Action 3: Design and implement new models of care

Topic: Expanding models of care
Title of image: Percentage of appropriate patients at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency who were seen in a disease site specific clinic in 2019
Caveats/limitations:

  • Appropriate patient is defined as a patient with cancer in a disease site for which there is a disease site-specific clinic.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Overall 35.8%.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Priority 4 Action 1: Provide better services and care adapted to the specific needs of underserved groups

Topic: Increasing access to culturally safe care
Title of image: Percentage of patients who felt their care providers treated them with dignity and respect.

Overall 91%.

Data source: AOPSS Survey (2016)

Topic: Increasing support to help patients navigate the system
Title of image: Percentage of new cancer patients who were referred to patient navigator services in 2019
Caveats/limitations: Due to various access points and timelines related to varying levels of urgency, not all patients are appropriate for New Patient Navigation services (i.e. those diagnosed in hospital or urgent/emergent new patient consultations).

Overall 86.1%Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Increasing support to help patients navigate the system
Title of image: Percentage of new cancer patients who were referred to patient navigator services in 2019, by location
Caveats/limitations: Due to various access points and timelines related to varying levels of urgency, not all patients are appropriate for New Patient Navigation services (i.e. those diagnosed in hospital or urgent/emergent new patient consultations.

Urban Overall 86.1%. Urban Regina 88.9%. Urban Saskatoon 82.9%. Rural overall 86.1%. Rural North Saskatchewan 74%.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Increasing support to help patients navigate the system
Title of image: Percentage of new cancer patients who were referred to patient navigator services in 2019, by income quintile
Caveats/limitations:

  • Income quintiles are defined as Neighborhood income quintile before tax for patients who live in Saskatoon and Regina. Patients who live outside of Saskatoon and Regina are not include, as neighborhood income quintiles are less representative in rural areas.
  • Due to various access points and timelines related to varying levels of urgency, not all patients are appropriate for New Patient Navigation services (i.e. those diagnosed in hospital or urgent/emergent new patient consultations.

Quintile 1: 83.3% Quintile 2: 85.5% Quintile 3: 86.2% Quintile 4: 87.2% Quintile 5: 86.9%Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Priority 4 Action 2: Ensure rural and remote communities have the resources required to better serve their people

Topic: Increasing access to virtual care
Title of image: Percentage of cancer patients from rural/remote communities using virtual health appointment for physician-led appointments
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

22.8% in 2019. 86.3% in 2020.Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Increasing access to virtual care
Title of image: Percentage of cancer patients from rural/remote communities using virtual health appointment for physician-led appointments in 2019, by location
Caveats/limitations:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.
  • Rural is defined at more than 100km outside of Regina and Saskatoon and urban is defined as within 100km of Regina or Saskatoon.

Rural, farther than 100 kilometres: 44.7% in 2019, and 89.4% in 2020. Urban, within 100 kilometres: 7.9% in 2019, and 84.2% in 2020.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Increasing access to virtual care
Title of image: Percentage of cancer patients from rural/remote communities using virtual health appointment for physician-led appointments, by location and appointment type
Caveats/limitations:

  • Note that appointment type is not mutually exclusive. A patient could have had both a telephone and telehealth appointment.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Telephone overall was 15.3% in 2019, and 97.1% in 2020. Telehealth overall was 88.8% in 2019, and 18.4% in 2020. Telephone with rural patients was7.3% 2019, and 95.3% in 2020. Telehealth with rural patients was 96.6% in 2019, and 31.3% in 2020. Telephone with urban patients was 46.1% in 2019, and 98.4% in 2020. Telehealth with urban patients was 58.9% in 2019, and 9.1% in 2020.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Increasing access to supportive care services
Title of image: Percentage of patients in SK seen at the SCA accessing supportive care services
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

29.2% in 2019. 32.3% in 2020.
Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Increasing access to supportive care services
Title of image: Percentage of patients in SK seen at the SCA accessing supportive care services, by appointment type and appointment location
Caveats/limitations:

  • Stratification by appointment type and appointment location are not mutually exclusive. For example, patients could have both a dietary and a Symptom Management and Palliative Outpatient Clinic (SMPCOC) appointment, and/or have been seen both in-person and virtually.
  • A virtual appointment could be via phone and/or telehealth.
  • Approximately 50% of the Saskatchewan population lives in Saskatoon and Regina (urban) and 50% live outside Saskatoon and Regina (rural).
  • The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Type or reason for appointment: Dietary in 2019 was 39.5%, and in 2020 was 38.8%. Psychosocial in 2019 was 81.8%, and in 2020 was 83.8%. Symptom Management and Palliative Outpatient Clinic in 2019 was 15.7%, and in 2020 13.8%. Appointment location: In person in 2019 was 78.1%, and in 2020 was 58.1%. Virtual in 2019 was 68.2%, and in 2020 was 85%. Phone in 2019 was 67.9%, and in 2020 was 84.2%. Telehealth in 2019 was 2.7%, and in 2020 was 0.8%.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Increasing access to supportive care services
Title of image: Percentage of patients seen at the SCA accessing supportive care services, by age group
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Age 19-29 in 2019 was 31.8%, and in 2020 was 30.9%. Age 30-39 in 2019 was 35.3%, and in 2020 was 41%. Age 40-49 in 2019 was 39%, and in 2020 was 40%. Age 50-59 in 2019 was 34.6%, and in 2020 was 37.8%. Age 60-69 in 2019 was 31.1%, and in 2020 was 34%. Age 70-79 in 2019 was 25.3%, and in 2020 was 28.2%. Age 80 and over in 2019 was 22.1%, and in 2020 was 25.2%.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Increasing access to supportive care services
Title of image: Percentage of patients seen at the SCA accessing supportive care services, by location
Caveats/limitations:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.
  • Rural is defined at 100km outside of Regina and Saskatoon and urban is defined as within 100km of Regina or Saskatoon.

Rural in 2019 was 27%, and in 2020 was 29.9%. Urban in 2019 was 30.6%, and in 2020 was 34%.Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Priority 4 Action 3: Ensure care can be delivered between provinces, territories and federal jurisdictions when needed

Topic: Improving access to timely care for people who need to travel between jurisdictions
Title of image: Average wait time (in days) for patients with cancer who require cancer treatment outside of their home jurisdiction
Caveats/limitations:

  • If the patient was approved for multiple treatments, the wait time was based on approval to first treatment.
  • Wait times for patients requiring procedure or treatment outside the province may require measurement of the timelines at different levels. These may include from request of procedure or treatment to approval from SCA, time of approval by the ministry, appointment for procedure or treatment by the facility outside the province. These may have to be taken in account when considering treatment or procedure which could be done within the province.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Median wait time was 40 days in 2019, and 26 days in 2020. 90th percentile wait time was 179 days in 2019, and 157 days in 2020.Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Priority 5 Action 1: Integrate the full spectrum of information and support services to ensure people are fully supported throughout the cancer experience

Topic: Improving availability of information and support
Title of image: Percentage of cancer patients who reported that they were given enough information about their cancer therapy and potential impacts of their cancer and/or treatment
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision. 

Appearance 57%. Emotions 34%. Energy/Fatigue 47%. Therapy 60%.

Data source: AOPSS Survey (2016)

Topic: Improving access to shared medical records
Title of image: Percentage of healthcare professionals with direct access to cancer patient information
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

2019: 27.1%. 2020: 40.7%.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Topic: Improving access to shared medical records
Title of image: Percentage of healthcare professionals with direct access to cancer patient information, by healthcare professional
Caveats/limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected service provision.

Physician: 59.1% in 2019, and 64.9% in 2020. Nurse practitioner: 62.3% in 2019, and 70.2% in 2020. Registered nurse: 18.6% in 2019, and 35.5% in 2020. Licensed practical nurse: 9.7% in 2019, and 21.4% in 2020. Pharmacist: 70.4% in 2019, and 77.8% in 2020.

Data source: Provincial cancer agencies and programs

Priority 5 Action 2: Address the limited and unequal access to palliative and end-of-life care across Canada

Topic: Improving access to quality end-of-life care
Title of image: Cumulative length of stay for cancer patients (overall) who were in or admitted to an acute care hospital 30 days prior to death across SK for fiscal years 2015, 2017, and 2019

Median in 2015 was 17 days, and in 2017 was 15 days, and in 2019 was 15 days. 90th percentile in 2015 was 46 days, and in 2017 was 40 days, and in 2019 was 45 days.Data source: Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Discharge Abstract Database (DAD)

Topic: Improving access to quality end-of-life care
Title of image: Cumulative length of stay for cancer patients (rural/remote) who were in or admitted to an acute care hospital 30 days prior to death across SK for fiscal years 2015, 2017, and 2019

Median in 2015 was 17 days, and in 2017 was 16 days, and in 2019 was 16 days. 90th percentile in 2015 was 46 days, and in 2017 was 43 days, and in 2019 was 48 days.Data source: Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Discharge Abstract Database (DAD)

Topic: Improving access to quality end-of-life care
Title of image: Cumulative length of stay for cancer patients (urban) who were in or admitted to an acute care hospital 30 days prior to death across SK for fiscal years 2015, 2017, and 2019

Median in 2015 was 17 days, and in 2017 was 15 days, and in 2019 was 14 days. 90th percentile in 2015 was 47 days, and in 2017 was 39 days, and in 2019 was 43 days.Data source: Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Discharge Abstract Database (DAD)

Download the data tables and technical appendix for all indicators