Screening: introduction

Question 1

screening vs diagnostic tests: scale?

Answer 1

screening: large
diagnostic: small

Question 2

screening vs diagnostic tests: population?

Answer 2

screening: asymptomati people
diagnostic: people with symptoms OR positive for screening test

Question 3

screening vs diagnostic tests: purpose?

Answer 3

screening: look for disease indicators; if positive then diagnostic test is done
diagnostic: definitively diagnose disease

Question 4

screening vs diagnostic tests: complexity?

Answer 4

screening: easy
diagnostic: complicated

Question 5

screening vs diagnostic tests: invasiveness?

Answer 5

screening: invasive
diagnostic: non invasive

Question 6

screening vs diagnostic tests: socially acceptable?

Answer 6

screening: yes
diagnostic: less so

Question 7

screening vs diagnostic tests: cost?

Answer 7

screening: low
diagnostic: high

Question 8

what test can be used for both screening and diagnosis? what’s the difference

Answer 8

mammogram

• screening: regular, all women
• diagnosis: to look at abnormalities/lumps

Question 9

2 difficult to remember screening tests?

Answer 9

rectal occult blood test

prostate specific antigen test

Question 10

describe rectal occult blood test

Answer 10

looks at blood in feces, screens for bowel cancer

Question 11

describe prostate specific antigen test

Answer 11

looks at levels of this antigen - if elevated, may indicate prostate cancer

Question 12

4 types of screening

Answer 12

mass screening
multiple/multiphasic screening
targeted screening
case finding/opportunistic screening

Question 13

define mass screening

Answer 13

screen a whole pop or subset of pop

Question 14

define multiple/multiphasic screening

Answer 14

do a variety of screening tests at once

Question 15

define targeted screening

Answer 15

only those with a specific exposure are screened

Question 16

define case finding/opportunistic screening

Answer 16

dr looks for A but finds B

Question 17

when is the ideal time to screen

Answer 17

when person has early disease but asymptomatic

Question 18

requirements of disease and screening tests:

• mnemonic for disease?
• mnemonic for screening test?

Answer 18

disease: L ET P C D

Screening test: c h ea a s f

Question 19

disease requirements? LETPCD

Answer 19

long preclinical phsase
early treatment available 
prevalence is high and known 
consequences of disease known, and can be treated. 
well defined

Question 20

screening test requirements? C H EA A S F

Answer 20

cheap 
does minimal harm 
equal access to it 
accurate (high specificity and sensitivity)
safe
facilities required to do it exist