What are the Criteria for an Effective Screening Program?
An effective screening program should meet the following criteria: 1. Disease Prevalence: The condition should be common enough to justify screening. 2. Detectable Early Stage: There should be a latent or early detectable stage of the disease. 3. Effective Treatment: Treatment should be more effective when started early. 4. Accurate Test: The screening test should have high sensitivity (few false negatives) and specificity (few false positives). 5. Accessibility: The test should be acceptable and accessible to the target population. 6. Cost-Effectiveness: The benefits of screening should outweigh the costs.
