What Are the Criteria for a Good Screening Program?

A successful screening program should meet several criteria:

Effectiveness: The screening test should accurately identify those with the disease (sensitivity) and those without the disease (specificity).
Acceptability: The test should be acceptable to the population, causing minimal discomfort and risk.
Cost-effectiveness: The benefits of screening should outweigh the costs involved.
Accessibility: The test should be easily accessible to the target population.
Follow-up: There should be a clear pathway for follow-up tests and treatment for those who test positive.