Screening for Disease

Contents

Page 1
Introduction
Learning Objectives

Page 2
The Utility of Screening
The Detectable Pre-Clinical Phase
When Screening Can Be Beneficial
Characteristics of a Good Screening Test
Sources of Unreliability (Inconsistency)

Page 3
Test Validity
Sensitivity
Specificity

Page 4
The Criterion of Positivity
ROC Curves

Page 5
Positive and Negative Predictive Value
Positive Predictive Value
Negative Predictive Value
Screening Validity Calculator

Page 6
The Yield of a Screening Program

Page 7
Adverse Effects of Screening
Over-Diagnosis

Page 8
Evaluating Screening Programs
Self-Selection Bias
Lead-Time Bias
Length Time Bias

Page 9
Screening for Down Syndrome (Optional)

Page 10
Other Resources

Page 11
Selected Answers
Question on the study by Hoffman, Gillaland, et al. on page 6 regarding PSA screening
Answer to Question on Down Syndrome on page 9

Content ©2016. All Rights Reserved.
Date last modified: June 15, 2016.
Wayne W. LaMorte, MD, PhD, MPH

Boston University School of Public Health