Sometimes sensitive, seldom specific: a review of the economics of screening.
As the policy relevance of screening has increased, the application of the techniques of economic evaluation to screening has become widespread. This paper critically reviews the literature, and in so doing, highlights several ways in which future evaluations might be improved. These include: the adoption of a broader perspective regarding the questions to be addressed and the relevant margins; a reconsideration of the nature of the benefits and how they might be valued; and a greater emphasis being placed upon the role of individual behaviour and its potential impact on the outcome of economic evaluations.
Cairns
J
J
Health Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, UK.
Shackley
P
P
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000191:economics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005544:Forecasting; D015438:Health Behavior; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D017059:Models, Econometric; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D006113:United Kingdom; D026712:Value of Life