Screening in General Practice

Abstract

Screening is the identification in an asymptomatic population of precursors of a disease or manifest disease. To be scientifically justified it must fulfill several criteria. A review of the literature appears to indicate that both multiphasic screening and indiscriminate mono phasic screening do not improve health care. Other than a few well proven interventions, developmental screening and an awareness o/ patients at risk from dislocating life events, there appears to be little benefit in applying ritualistic, costly and sometimes even harmful examinations and, investigations at regular intervals on asymptomatic patients.