The delivery of population-based screening programs aims to increase early detection, prevent illness, decrease mortality, and reduce impacts on health services for specialised care.
Cancer screening
Early detection improves health outcomes for:
- certain cancers in adults
- conditions present at birth, such as genetic and metabolic conditions
- hearing problems in newborns.
Detecting cancers early improves survival. For example, cervical cancers detected through screening have a 77% lower chance of causing death than cancers detected in people who have never been screened.1
Cancer screening recommendations and programs improve as the evidence base evolves and aim to increase participation. New technologies and greater understanding of the range of genetic, personal, lifestyle and other risk factors associated with developing cancer are leading to better risk-based or individualised approaches to cancer screening.2 These are increasingly recognised as ways to improve outcomes.
Newborn screening
Newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) is recognised around the world as a successful population health screening program, helping children avoid lifelong disability or death from a range of serious conditions.
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Cancer screening
Cancer screening is a significant contributor to reduced cancer mortality. Finding cancers early contributes to improved quality of life and reduces overall health system costs.
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Newborn screening
Newborn bloodspot screening identifies babies at risk of becoming seriously ill from a rare condition. Screening aims to improve the health of these babies by allowing early intervention.
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2019. Analysis of cervical cancer and abnormality outcomes in an era of cervical screening and HPV vaccination in Australia, AIHW, Canberra.
- Protani M, Page A, Taylor R, et al. 2012. Breast cancer risk factors in Queensland women attending population-based mammography screening., Maturitas, 71(3):279–286, doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.12.008.