Cancer screening programs in South-east Asia and Western Pacific

Wee HL 1 , Canfell K 2 , Chiu HM 3 , Choi KS 4 , Cox B 5 , Bhoo-Pathy N 6 Show all authors , Simms KT 2 , Hamashima C 7 , Shen Q 1 , Chua B 1 , Siwaporn N 8 , Toes-Zoutendijk E 9

Affiliations 

  • 1 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • 2 The Daffodil Centre, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • 3 Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 4 Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Ilsandonggu, Goyang, Republic of Korea
  • 5 Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  • 6 Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 7 Division of Cancer Screening Assessment and Management, Institute of Cancer Control, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
  • 8 Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, National Cancer Institute of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 9 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. e.toes-zoutendijk@erasmusmc.nl
BMC Health Serv Res, 2024 Jan 18;24(1):102.
PMID: 38238704 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10327-8

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The burden of cancer can be altered by screening. The field of cancer screening is constantly evolving; from the initiation of program for new cancer types as well as exploring innovative screening strategies (e.g. new screening tests). The aim of this study was to perform a landscape analysis of existing cancer screening programs in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific.

METHODS: We conducted an overview of cancer screening in the region with the goal of summarizing current designs of cancer screening programs. First, a selective narrative literature review was used as an exploration to identify countries with organized screening programs. Second, representatives of each country with an organized program were approached and asked to provide relevant information on the organizations of their national or regional cancer screening program.

RESULTS: There was wide variation in the screening strategies offered in the considered region with only eight programs identified as having an organized design. The majority of these programs did not meet all the essential criteria for being organized screening. The greatest variation was observed in the starting and stopping ages.

CONCLUSIONS: Essential criteria of organized screening are missed. Improving organization is crucial to ensure that the beneficial effects of screening are achieved in the long-term. It is strongly recommended to consider a regional cancer screening network.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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