Which criterion is NOT appropriate for population-based screening?

Which criterion is NOT appropriate for population-based screening?

• A. The condition is a major health problem with effective treatment
• B. The test has high sensitivity and specificity
• C. The disease has no effective treatment
• D. There is good follow-up and population acceptance

Answer: (C)

Population-based screening works best when finding the disease early actually changes what happens to people. That means the condition is a major health problem and there is an effective intervention that can reduce morbidity or mortality if caught early. If the disease has no effective treatment, identifying it through screening doesn’t improve outcomes and can cause harm from false positives, unnecessary follow-up tests, and anxiety without offering a real benefit. So that criterion—having no effective treatment—fits poorly with the purpose of screening. The other points support a beneficial, feasible program: a condition with substantial impact, a screening test that reliably detects cases, and a system that ensures follow-up and acceptance in the population.

Population-based screening works best when finding the disease early actually changes what happens to people. That means the condition is a major health problem and there is an effective intervention that can reduce morbidity or mortality if caught early. If the disease has no effective treatment, identifying it through screening doesn’t improve outcomes and can cause harm from false positives, unnecessary follow-up tests, and anxiety without offering a real benefit. So that criterion—having no effective treatment—fits poorly with the purpose of screening. The other points support a beneficial, feasible program: a condition with substantial impact, a screening test that reliably detects cases, and a system that ensures follow-up and acceptance in the population.