title: [Principles and fields of application of screening procedures].
abstract: This article explains some important concepts of screening and early detection. It also discusses under which circumstances screening is useful, who can profit from screening and which persons may be at risk from screening procedures. Before the introduction of a screening program, empirical studies on the effectiveness are necessary to evaluate whether a screening program could be successful.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Biometrie, Epidemiologie und Informatik (IMBEI), Universitätsmedizin der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 69, 55131, Mainz, Deutschland. blettner@uni-mainz.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blettner
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Biometrie, Epidemiologie und Informatik (IMBEI), Universitätsmedizin der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 69, 55131, Mainz, Deutschland.|Deutsches Kinderkrebsregister, Mainz, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spix
mesh_terms: D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Benefit-risk assessment; Early detection of disease; Evaluation, screening program; Screening; Sensitivity and specificity