Approach to Population‑based Screening in the Czech Republic, Methodology and First Results of the Personalised Invitation of Citizens to Cancer Screening Programmes

Czech version

Authors: L. Dušek ^1,2; O. Májek ^1,2; M. Bláha ^1,2; J. Daneš ³; M. Zavoral ⁴; B. Seifert ⁵; V. Dvořák ⁶; M. Skovajsová ⁷; Š. Suchánek ⁴; T. Jung ⁸; M. Brzková ⁸; P. Klika ¹; D. Klimeš ¹; J. Koptíková ¹; J. Gregor ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Institut bio statistiky a analýz, LF a PřF MU, Brno ¹; Ústav zdravotnických informací a statistiky ČR, Praha ²; Radiodia gnostická klinika 1. LF UK a VFN v Praze ³; Interní klinika 1. LF UK a ÚVN Praha ⁴; Ústav všeobecného lékařství, 1. LF UK v Praze ⁵; Centrum ambulantní gynekologie a primární péče, Brno ⁶; Breast Unit Prague, Mamma centrum Háje, Praha ⁷; Ministerstvo zdravotnictví ČR, Praha ⁸
Published in: Klin Onkol 2014; 27(Supplementum 2): 59-68
doi: https://doi.org/10.14735/amko20142S59

Overview

In January 2014, a programme of personalised invitations was launched in the Czech Republic, with the objective of inviting insured persons to cancer screening programmes; namely breast cancer screening and cervical cancer screening in women, and colorectal cancer screening both in women and men. This programme aims at strengthening the current cancer prevention programmes, and to increase the currently inadequate participation of the target population in these programmes; therefore, personalised invitations are sent to citizens who have not participated in these programmes for several years and therefore at risk of developing a serious disease. The project is coordinated by the Czech Ministry of Health in cooperation with the expert medical societies involved (gynaecology, gastroenterology, gastrointestinal oncology, diagnostic radiology, general practice), representatives of health care payers, and other experts nominated by the Minister of Health. All health care payers invite their clients (insured persons) to preventive check-ups, covering all examinations needed. The project has been realised with the assistance of financial resources from EU funds. This article describes the methodology of personalised invitations which has been implemented nationwide, its data background, and the first results of the project in the first half of 2014, when almost 1.3 million Czech citizens were invited.

Key words:
personalised invitation – screening – cancer – prevention – general practitioner – gynaecologist

This study was supported by the project 36/14//NAP “Development and implementation of methodology for the evaluation of effectiveness of personalised invitations of citizens to cancer screening programmes” as part of the programme of the Czech Ministry of Health “National action plans and conceptions”.

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers.

Submitted:
29. 8. 2014

Accepted:
30. 9. 2014

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