Question

How might public health officials overcome “screeningitis” to protect the population?

Answer 1

Screeningitis is the ethics of screening programme. Screening programme used to detect the disease at early and to treat the disease accordingly. But screening itself cannot detect the abnormality and some of them consider that the screening gives more harm rather than the benefit. So the proper approach is needed in the establishment of the screening programme for the reassurance of the people. Screening programme usually was done in community sectors where a large number of people get benefited. So the public health officials have to interact to overcome the barriers and to protect the people. Public health officials have to concern about

• Socioeconomic condition of the people which is the primary barrier to get screened. Provide screening tests at a low rate to reduce the economic burden of the people.
• Arrange counseling session to discuss and clear the questions about screening and to get rid of screening fear.
• Issues of pamphlets to educate the public about the screening procedures and time taken for screening and its importance.
• Conduct screening on convenient days so the public can actively participate in.
• Prior to screening consider about the individual's anxiety levels to prevent false positive results.
• Take moral responsibility to prevent harm to the participants.
• Prioritization should be given for the needed based on the principle of justice.