title: Patients compliance in an early detection program for upper aero-digestive tract tumours in north-eastern Italy.
abstract: An early detection program for tumours of the upper respiratory and digestive tract has been conducted from December, 1988 to May, 1989 in the Friuli Venezia-Giulia region, Northeastern Italy. This region shows very high mortality rates for cancers in these sites. Six hundred seventy-one high risk patients (i e habitual smokers and/or drinkers) were referred to Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists from 16 General Practitioners (GPs) for a free examination as part of the screening program. Four hundred thirty-six patients underwent the visit (65%) with fifty-five precancerous lesions and eight epithelial tumours detected among them. This program appears to have accomplished its aims of establishing a closer relationship between GPs and ENT specialists, discovering early cancerous and precancerous lesions, and targeting high risk patients with an educational message against smoking and heavy drinking.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Epidemiologia, Aviano-Cancer Center.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barra
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Barón
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barzan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veronesi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talamini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Comoretto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012142:Respiratory Tract Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention