13.1.7

13.1.7   Explain the benefits and limitations of NHS screening programmes

Screening is a way of identifying apparently healthy people who may have an increased risk of a particular condition. The NHS offers a range of screening tests (eleven have been approved for national implementation) to different sections of the population.

The benefits of having a screening test include:
Screening can detect a problem early, ie before you have any symptoms.
Finding out about a problem early can mean that treatment is more effective.
Finding out you have a health problem (or increased risk of a said health problem) can help people make better informed decisions about their health.
Screening can reduce the risk of developing a condition or its associated complications.
Screening can save lives.


The limitations of screening can include:
Screening tests are not 100% accurate (i refer to sensitivity & specificity). You could be told you are at risk of problem when you don't (referred to as "false positive") and may lead to some people having unnecessary further tests or treatment as a result of screening. A screening test could also miss a problem (referred to as "false negative") and could lead to people ignoring potential symptoms in the future as they had a negative screening result.
Because screening is not 100% sensitive or specific which can lead to anxiety over a given disease / condition, it is important that individuals have access to up-to-date and accurate information in a format they can understand in order to reach a decision as to whether or not to accept the offer of screening.
Some screening tests can lead to difficult decisions. For example, if a pregnancy screening test tells you your baby has a higher risk of a particular condition, you may then be faced with a decision about having further diagnostic tests that involve a risk to your pregnancy. If the diagnostic test is positive, you may then need to decide whether to continue with your pregnancy.
Finding out you may have a health problem can cause considerable anxiety.
Even if your screening test result is normal or negative (meaning you are not at high risk), you could still go on to develop the condition.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-population-screening-explained#illustration-of-the-screening-process
https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/interactive-learning/screening/chapter1
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-screening/