title: [Screening: principles and methods].
abstract: The concept of early detection to then intervene and improve the prognostic seems straightforward. Applied to asymptomatic subjects, this concept--screening--is rather complex. This review presents the rational and fundamental principles of screening. It underscores the fundamental principles related to the disease and to the screening test considered, the importance of considering screening as a program rather than a test only, and the validity of measures used to evaluate the efficacy of screening. Lastly, it reviews the most frequently bias encountered in screening studies and interpretations.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine communautaire et de premier recours, HUG, 1211 Genève 14. idris.guessous@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guessous
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cornuz
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gaspoz
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paccaud
mesh_terms: D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*