9

Screening

CHAPTER OVERVIEW

This chapter examines definitions of screening and describes

the history of the screening of populations both in general

practice and in hospital-based medical centres. It

outlines the guidelines for developing screening programmes

and assesses the patient, health professional and

organizational predictors of screening uptake. The chapter

then examines recent research which has emphasized the

negative consequences of screening in terms of ethical

principles, the cost effectiveness and the possible

psychological consequences.

This chapter covers:

➧ What is screening?

➧ Guidelines for screening

➧ Predictors of screening uptake

➧ Screening as problematic

➧ Is screening ethical?

➧ Is screening cost-effective?

➧ What are the psychological consequences of screening?

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