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Wee HL, Canfell K, Chiu HM, Choi KS, Cox B, Bhoo-Pathy N, Simms KT, Hamashima C, Shen Q, Chua B, Siwaporn N, Toes-Zoutendijk E. Cancer screening programs in South-east Asia and Western Pacific. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:102. [PMID: 38238704 PMCID: PMC10797973 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10327-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of cancer can be altered by screening. The field of cancer screening is constantly evolving; from the initiation of program for new cancer types as well as exploring innovative screening strategies (e.g. new screening tests). The aim of this study was to perform a landscape analysis of existing cancer screening programs in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. METHODS We conducted an overview of cancer screening in the region with the goal of summarizing current designs of cancer screening programs. First, a selective narrative literature review was used as an exploration to identify countries with organized screening programs. Second, representatives of each country with an organized program were approached and asked to provide relevant information on the organizations of their national or regional cancer screening program. RESULTS There was wide variation in the screening strategies offered in the considered region with only eight programs identified as having an organized design. The majority of these programs did not meet all the essential criteria for being organized screening. The greatest variation was observed in the starting and stopping ages. CONCLUSIONS Essential criteria of organized screening are missed. Improving organization is crucial to ensure that the beneficial effects of screening are achieved in the long-term. It is strongly recommended to consider a regional cancer screening network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwee-Lin Wee
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Karen Canfell
- The Daffodil Centre, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Han-Mo Chiu
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kui Son Choi
- Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Ilsandonggu, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Brian Cox
- Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kate T Simms
- The Daffodil Centre, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Chisato Hamashima
- Division of Cancer Screening Assessment and Management, Institute of Cancer Control, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
- Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Qianyu Shen
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Brandon Chua
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Niyomsri Siwaporn
- Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, National Cancer Institute of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Esther Toes-Zoutendijk
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2014, Rotterdam, CA, 3000, the Netherlands.
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