Paeds Vivas · preventive-and-community-paediatrics
Screening test principles in children — branching viva
Viva on screening criteria, low-prevalence PPV, consent and false-positive pathways.
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Study tools
Target exams
RACP DCEMRCPCH Clinical
Prompt
Clinic meeting: a company offers free multi-disease screening panels for all well under-fives attached to your service; parents are enthusiastic; confirmatory pathways for several analytes are unclear.
Opening
Examiner prompt and strong answer — definition: Screening offers tests to apparently well children to find unrecognised disease or risk early enough that planned action improves outcomes. Diagnostic testing answers what is wrong in a symptomatic child. A screen is a programme step, not a diagnosis. [4]
References8ShowHide
- [1]Andermann A Revisiting Wilson and Jungner in the genomic age: a review of screening criteria over the past 40 years Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2008.PMID 18438522
- [2]Dobrow MJ Consolidated principles for screening based on a systematic review and consensus process CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne, 2018.PMID 29632037
- [3]Harris R Reconsidering the criteria for evaluating proposed screening programs: reflections from 4 current and former members of the U.S. Preventive services task force Epidemiologic reviews, 2011.PMID 21666224
- [4]Grimes DA Uses and abuses of screening tests Lancet (London, England), 2002.PMID 11897304
- [5]Akobeng AK Understanding diagnostic tests 1: sensitivity, specificity and predictive values Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 2007.PMID 17407452
- [6]Størdal K Overtesting and overtreatment-statement from the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) European journal of pediatrics, 2019.PMID 31506723
- [7]Tluczek A Psychosocial consequences of false-positive newborn screens for cystic fibrosis Qualitative health research, 2011.PMID 20852016
- [8]Goldenberg AJ Evaluating Harms in the Assessment of Net Benefit: A Framework for Newborn Screening Condition Review Maternal and child health journal, 2016.PMID 26833040