Results of a work-site educational and screening program for hypertension and cancer

Article Abstract:

In the United States, 68 percent of deaths are due to cardiovascular disease and cancer. An educational and screening program was conducted at ten worksites; 888 employees were screened for hypertension and six types of cancer (oral, breast, prostate, rectal, colon and testicular). As an indication of the success of the program, 73 percent of the employees who attended the educational phase of the program decided to participate in the screenings. Employees in whom abnormalities were discovered on initial screening were referred for follow-up. Based on those employees who participated in the follow-up, 51 were confirmed to have high blood pressure, and six had confirmed cancerous or precancerous abnormalities, including two early cancers and four malignant precursors. The program established its value both to the employer and to society since it proved to be cost effective. The total cost of the screening program was $97,573, while the cost of a single, late-stage colon or breast cancer is estimated to be $153,950. One risk of these programs is that an excessive number of false positive results on screening will reduce the cost benefits and will often produce undue anxiety. The appearance of false negative results can delay necessary treatment. But the overall experience with the program illustrates the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of worksite screening programs for cancer and hypertension. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Case studies, Economic aspects, Hypertension, Occupational health services, Cancer, Wellness programs, Cancer diagnosis, Diagnostic services

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Screening blood test identifies subclinical beryllium disease

Article Abstract:

Beryllium, a metallic element, causes granulomatous interstitial lung matter (material, often bacteria or dust, embedded in the spaces between cells in the lungs, or 'interstitial spaces') resulting in lung disease in one to three percent of persons exposed to dust or salts that contain this element. Workers in such industries as aerospace, nuclear power, telecommunications, integrated circuit chips for computers, dental alloys and tool and die making come in contact with this material. The beryllium-specific lymphocyte transformation test was used in an evaluation of 51 of 58 workers exposed on an ongoing basis to beryllium at the workplace. Results showed that this peripheral blood test is valuable in identifying minimally symptomatic cases of beryllium disease. Moreover, some persons with a positive peripheral blood lymphocyte transformation test did not have beryllium disease when their initial evaluation was done. Finally, the lymphocyte transformation test reproducibility was found to be good, indicating the test should continue to be evaluated for screening. In sum, the test may help prevent clinical chronic beryllium disease via early diagnosis in the subclinical phase.

Health aspects, Medical examination, Lung diseases, Blood, Blood tests, Beryllium, Berylliosis

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Principles of bladder cancer screening in an intervention trial

Article Abstract:

Medical screening in large population groups is usually applied to diseases with a high prevalence, a high rate of morbidity and mortality, a prolonged preclinical phase, and an available treatment that can improve survival if applied before the appearance of clinical manifestations. The screening test must be acceptable to the client and provider, easily and simply performed, safe and relatively painless, inexpensive, and truly indicate the disease state. This article discusses in detail how the use of screening tests is determined, questions to be asked, alternative decisions that can be made, and factors that aid in those decisions. To develop a valid, effective screening test for urinary bladder cancer, these issues must be addressed. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Methods, Bladder cancer

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