A1 Understand health issues page 32 Flashcards
What are the WHO criteria for an effective screening test?
The WHO criteria for an effective screening test include that the condition should be important, have a treatment, facilities for diagnosis, a detectable stage, an acceptable test, and an economic balance in cost.
Why is it important for a condition to have a treatment in order to screen for it?
If there is no treatment available for the condition, there is little benefit in screening for it, as detecting it would not improve patient outcomes.
Why must a screening test be acceptable to the population?
A screening test must be acceptable to the population; otherwise, people will not attend screenings, reducing the effectiveness of the programme.
Why is cervical cancer screening not offered to women under the age of 25?
Cervical cancer screening is not offered to women under 25 because their cervical cells are still changing, leading to many false positives and unnecessary investigations.
Why is prostate cancer screening not commonly offered to men?
Prostate cancer screening is not commonly offered because the blood test is unreliable and can result in false positives and false negatives.
What is the challenge in deciding which cancers to screen for and who should be tested?
The challenge lies in balancing the practicality of screening for certain cancers with the reliability of the tests and the suitability of specific population groups for screening.
Why is cancer screening an important part of disease prevention despite its limitations?
Cancer screening is important for early detection, which can improve treatment outcomes, despite limitations such as false positives and negatives.
