Ad hoc screening tests may do more harm than good
Screening should be based on evidence |
Unregulated health screening may do more harm than good and the public should be wary, Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the British Medical Association, warned at a press briefing in London last week. This includes tests performed in private health clinics and test kits bought through the internet.
According to the BMA, such tests are often not evidence-based, not of
high quality and lack balanced information (eg, in terms of specificity)
and continuity of care. False positives can result in unnecessary anxiety
and further invasive tests, and false negatives in a disease being missed.
“There is no doubt that some specific screening tests have the
potential to save lives but this does not mean that there are no associated
risks,” Dr
Nathanson said. “People must be able to make an informed decision.
After they receive positive results it is essential that people have
appropriate support. This is often lacking when screening is haphazard
and not part of a proper screening programme,” she added.
A report, “Population
screening and genetic testing”, published
by the BMA last week, considers the risks associated with ad hoc screening.
Another concern raised at the briefing was that unregulated screening
can divert NHS resources from patients to the “worried well” who
have had a private screening consultation. These people can require further
tests on the NHS, counselling and explanations of the complex science
of screening. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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