Screening

Question 1

define screening

Answer 1

an organised attempt to detect disorders or risk factors among apparently healthy people - of which they are unaware. This is done with the intention to intervene.

Question 2

describe the three levels of prevention within the context of screening

Answer 2

primary prevention - preventing a disease by identifying and controlling the risk factors
secondary prevention - reducing the consequences of a disease through early diagnosis and intervention
tertiary prevention - reducing the complications of a disease through rehabilitation

Question 3

what are the necessary criteria for conducting a screening programme?

Answer 3

DIAGNOSIS: serious, high prevalence, well understood
TOOL: sensitive, specific, simple, cheap, safe, acceptable, reliable

Question 4

what is sensitivity?

Answer 4

how good the test is at finding people with the disease

Question 5

what is specificity?

Answer 5

how good the test is at excluding people who do not have the disease

Question 6

outline the ethical considerations/issues that may surface

Answer 6

• discrimination
• failure to inform results
• failure to address additional problems
• failure to intervene
• failure to follow up
• permission/consent
• privacy /dignity
• screening without intention to intervene
• unsafe screening