ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: False-positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) results in the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) for colorectal cancer may lead to unnecessary procedures, such as colonoscopies, increasing the medical costs. We estimated reductions in the cost of National Health Insurance according to the accreditation status of screening facilities participating in the NCSP for colorectal cancer. METHODS: We used data collected between 2007 and 2010 from NCSP and the Korea Central Cancer Registry to identify patients with colorectal cancer. We also ascertained the history of the accreditation of each facility by the Korean Laboratory Accreditation Program (KLAP). Budget impact was defined as a reduction in medical costs achieved when the false-positive rate of the non-accredited facilities decreased relative to that of the accredited facilities. RESULTS: A total of 3,285 screening facilities participated in the NCSP. Of these, 196 were accredited by the KLAP. The false-positive rate of the accredited facilities was 2.47%, and that of the non-accredited facilities was 6.83%. Medical costs were estimated to be reduced by approximately 19 million US dollars (USD), and the cost of detecting one case of colorectal cancer was estimated to decrease from 9,212 USD to 7,332 USD if the false-positive rate of non-accredited facilities were decreased to that of the accredited facilities. Clinics were estimated to have the largest associated cost reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Quality assurance in clinical laboratories could lower false-positive rates and prevent the use of unnecessary procedures, ensuring patient safety and increasing the cost-effectiveness of FIT screening in the NCSP for colorectal cancer.
Subject(s)
Humans , Accreditation , Budgets , Colonoscopy , Colorectal Neoplasms , Early Detection of Cancer , Korea , Mass Screening , National Health Programs , Patient Safety , Quality Improvement , Unnecessary ProceduresABSTRACT
Objetivo: explorar y definir la utilidad de las diferentes estrategias de prevención primaria (ASA, dieta, actividad física) y las estrategias de tamización (test de sangre oculta en heces, sigmoidoscopia, colonoscopia, etc.) para cáncer colorrectal. Fuente de datos: las bases de datos consultadas fueron MEDLINE (1966 a 2006), DARE (1980 a 2006), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Collaborations Registry of Clinical Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews y LILACS. Selección de los estudios: estudios tipo ensayo clínico, cohorte y casos y controles de la efectividad de las pruebas de tamización y prevención primaria para adenoma y cáncer colorrectal; fueron identificados por dos revisores. Extracción de los datos: la extracción de los datos y su evaluación se realizo en la mayoría del proceso de manera pareada. Limitaciones: no cumple rigurosamente con la metodología de una revisión sistemática, por lo cual su reproducibilidad es cuestionable. Las conclusiones de este estudio deben extrapolarse con precaución. Conclusiones: la mejor estrategia de tamización en cuanto a la efectividad de detección temprana de lesiones preneoplasicas o cáncer es la colonoscopia cada 5 anos; sin embargo, es necesario evaluar esta medida con estudios de costo-efectividad. En cuanto a prevención primaria, la aspirina y los inhibidores de la ciclooxigenasa 2 reducen la incidencia de adenoma colonico. La aspirina puede reducir la incidencia de cáncer colorectal. Sin embargo, estos medicamentos pueden estar asociados a un importante riesgo de eventos cardiovasculares y sangrado gastrointestinal. El balance entre riesgos y beneficios debe ser evaluado en próximos estudios.
Objective: To explore and define the utility of different strategies for primary prevention (ASA, diet, physical activity) and strategies of screening test (FOBT, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, etc.) for colorectal cancer. Data source: Databases consulted were MEDLINE (1966 to 2006), DARE (1980 to 2006), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Collaborations Registry of Clinical Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and LILACS. Study selection: Studies such clinical trial, cohort and case-control studies of the effectiveness of tests for screening and primary prevention adenoma and colorectal cancer were identified by two reviewers. Data Extraction: The extraction of data and its evaluation is done in most of the process so paired. Limitations: Not strictly complies with the methodology of a systematic review and therefore reproducibility is questionable, the conclusions of this study should be extrapolated with caution. Conclusions: The major strategy of screening on the effectiveness of early detection of premalignant lesions or cancer is colonoscopy every 5 years, however it is necessary to evaluate this measure cost-effectiveness studies. For primary prevention, aspirin and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors reduce the incidence of colorectal adenomas. Aspirin can reduce colorectal cancer incidence. However, these medications may be associated with a significant risk of cardiovascular events and gastrointestinal bleeding. The balance between risks and benefits must be evaluated in future studies.