Question

A 35-year-old lady comes for a consultation. She is worried since both her parents are on treatment for diabetes. She seeks advice from you in taking care of her health.
What are the benefits and disadvantages of screening tests?

Hint:

While screening tests save lives by detecting diseases early, it is important to weigh the benefits against potential harms, such as false positives or overdiagnosis.

Answer 1

Screening tests offer significant benefits, including early detection and prevention, but they also have disadvantages such as false positives, overdiagnosis, and the costs associated with large-scale screening programs. Balancing the benefits with the risks is essential in healthcare decision-making.
The benefits and disadvantages of screening tests include:

Step 1: Benefits
- Early Detection: Screening helps in the early identification of diseases like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, leading to better treatment outcomes.
- Prevention: Early detection through screening can prevent complications by enabling timely intervention (e.g., lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients or controlling blood sugar in diabetic patients).
- Cost-Effectiveness: Early treatment often reduces the long-term healthcare costs associated with advanced disease stages.
- Increased Survival: Screening can significantly increase survival rates by identifying diseases early when they are most treatable.

Step 2: Disadvantages
- False Positives/Negatives: Screening tests may give false positive or false negative results, leading to unnecessary treatments or missed diagnoses.
- Overdiagnosis: Some screening tests can detect conditions that would not have caused harm if left untreated, leading to unnecessary interventions.
- Cost and Resources: Mass screening programs can be expensive and may strain healthcare resources, especially in low-resource settings.
- Anxiety: False positive results can lead to anxiety and unnecessary follow-up tests.