Benefits and costs of screening and treatment for early breast cancer: development of a basic benefit package
Article Abstract:
A basic benefits plan for the early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer may provide maximal benefits at reasonable costs. Researchers used cost-benefit analyses to develop a basic benefit plan for the identification and treatment of early breast cancer. The analyses were based on summarized data from published studies on screening mammography, primary surgery, adjuvant therapy, and follow-up care and the 1993 Medicare rates. These data were modeled onto a hypothetical health care population of 500,000. Results revealed that a basic benefits package for the diagnosis and treatment of early breast cancer should include biennial screening mammography for women between the ages of 50 and 69, the option of mastectomy or breast conservation therapy followed by radiation therapy, adjuvant therapy for all women at risk of cancer recurrence, and follow-up care excluding regular testing for metastasis.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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An annotated algorithm approach to clinical guideline development
Article Abstract:
The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) has developed annotated algorithms to help health care professionals formulate treatment plans. The algorithms have a number at each node that refers doctors and nurses to the page in the practice guideline where the information is discussed. The guideline also lists the articles from the medical literature that support the treatment plan. The algorithm includes counseling nodes that provide the doctor or nurse with more than one way of treating a condition. This solves a major criticism of algorithms - that they provide no flexibility in treatment plans. AHCPR panels have found that developing these algorithms often identifies treatment plans whose effectiveness has yet to be documented in the literature. These algorithms could provide health care professionals with additional areas of research.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1992
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