Regional Variation in National Gastric Cancer Screening Rate in Korea / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: This study purposed to analyze regional factors related to gastric cancer screening rate provided by national cancer screening program in Korea. METHODS: The unit of analysis was administrative districts of si∙gun∙gu level. Dependent variable was regional gastric cancer screening rate provided by national cancer screening program, and regional variables were selected to represent the regional characteristics such as demographic, health behavior and status, socioeconomic, and health resource. Tobit regression was applied for the analysis. RESULTS: Analysis results showed that gastric cancer screening rate was varied depending on regions from 47.8% to 69.1%. Tobit regression showed that gastric cancer screening rate had negative relationships with smoking rate, financial independence rate, and National Health Insurance premium per capita. And regional gastric cancer screening rate had positive relationships with sex ratio and number of gastric cancer screening center. CONCLUSION: Regional characteristics should be considered in establishing regional policies for increasing the gastric cancer screening rate.

Outcomes and Efficiency of National Gastric Cancer Screening Program in Korea

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) for Medicaid recipients has contributed to reduction of cancer-related mortality in Korea. Although biennial gastric cancer screening by endoscopy has been increasing in Korea as part of the NCSP, few studies have evaluated its efficiency. Therefore, we analyzed the outcomes and efficiency of the NCSP for gastric cancer using endoscopy in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed results from the NCSP for gastric cancer at Chung-Ang University Yong-San Hospital in Korea from March 2003 to March 2008. The study population comprised of Medicaid recipients more than 40 years old, who were taken from the National Health Insurance Corporation. RESULTS: A total of 7,278 asymptomatic subjects underwent endoscopy for gastric cancer screening. The mean age of the screened subjects was 51.3 years for men and 48.9 years for women. The male to female ratio of the screened subjects was 1.2:1. Gastric cancer was diagnosed in 32 (0.44%) of 7,278 subjects (22 men and 10 women). Their mean age was 54.4 years. Of these, 21 subjects (0.29%) were diagnosed as early gastric cancer (EGC) and 11 subjects (0.15%) were diagnosed as advanced gastric cancer. The proportion of EGCs among total gastric cancers was 65.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite accomplishments of the NCSP for gastric cancer in Korea, its effectiveness remains an issue. Efficiency and cost-effectiveness analysis will be needed for successful progression.

Evidence-based National Cancer Screening program of Korea

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Korea. Therefore cancer control is one of the most important health issues. Cancer screening is the most promising strategy for controlling cancer. The National Cancer Screening Program started in 2002 in Korea. The goal of the program is to reduce the mortality or incidence rate of the cancer or both. To be effective, the evidence-based National Cancer Screening program should be implemented. For the evidence-based program, related indices were recommended for each step. When adopting a new cancer screening program, the predicted benefit and harm should be analysed, and when a decision is made to adopt the program, a pilot study for feasibility should be implemented. After implementing the community-based screening program, several types of the evaluation for the effectiveness of the program ought to be performed. The indices for each step were listed and discussed. And several conditions suggested for performing evidence-based national cancer screening program in Korea were discussed. Randomized clinical trials to compare the efficacy between the screening tools are recommended. And the study to evaluate the harm from the screening programs should be performed. To achieve the goal of the National Cancer Screening Program, evidence-based national cancer screening program should be performed.

Prevalence and Risk Factor of Erosive Esophagitis Observed in Korean National Cancer Screening Program

Prevalence of erosive esophagitis (EE) has been increasing in Korea. The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence of EE among low socioeconomic population in Korea and to investigate risk factors for EE. We reviewed the medical records of 7,278 subjects who were examined by upper endoscopy in the Korean National Cancer Screening Program at Chung-Ang University Yong-san Hospital from March 2003 to March 2008. The study population included subjects > or = 40 yr of age who were Medicaid recipients and beneficiaries in the National Health Insurance Corporation. Multivariate analysis was used to determine risk factors for EE. Prevalence of EE was 6.7% (486/7,278). According to the LA classification system, LA-A in 344 subjects, LA-B in 135 subjects, and LA-C and D in 7 subjects. In multivariate analysis, age > or = 60 yr, male sex, BMI > or = 25, current smoking, alcohol consumption, fasting glucose level > or = 126 mg/dL, and endoscopic hiatal hernia were significant risk factors for EE. The prevalence of EE in low socioeconomic Korean population is similar to that in personal annual medical check-ups. Risk factors for EE among them include old age, male sex, BMI > or = 25, current smoking, alcohol consumption, fasting glucose level > or = 126 mg/dL, and hiatal hernia.

Trends of Mammography Use in a National Breast Cancer Screening Program, 2004-2008 / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Korea started breast cancer screening as part of the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) in 1999. In order to identify under-served groups, we investigated mammography uptake in the National Breast Cancer Screening Program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was participants in the National Breast Cancer Screening Program from 2004 to 2008. We analyzed participation rates by insurance type, age group, and area of residence. RESULTS: Total participation rates for breast cancer screening increased from 18.2% in 2004 to 35.0% in 2008. The participation rate in the group aged 60 to 69 years showed the greatest increase, 21.3%, among the four age groups. Although the screening rate increased continuously, the participation rate of the Medical Aid Program (MAP) group was low compared to the National Health Insurance (NHI) group. Moreover, the increasing trend of mammography uptake in the MAP group was much lower than that of the NHI group. CONCLUSION: The participation rate for breast cancer screening in the NCSP in Korea has increased. However, the participation rate in mammography among MAP recipients is still lower than that of NHI beneficiaries. To increase mammography uptake, it is important to make it available to everyone by ensuring inclusion of all population subgroups.

Factors Associated with Cancer Screening Intention in Eligible Persons for National Cancer Screening Program / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To identify factors associated with cancer screening intention using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). METHODS: Among 55,920 eligible persons for National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) in J city, 1,100 individuals were contacted. Of these, 797 were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Thirty-six responses were excluded due to incomplete data. The remaining 761 completed questionnaires were analyzed to find factors associated with cancer screening intention. RESULTS: Cancer screening intention was significantly associated with behavioral attitude (p<0.01) and subjective norm (p<0.01), but not with perceived behavioral control (p=0.29) in the TPB model. These three constructs explained 29.7% of cancer screening intention in multiple linear regression analysis. External factors such as socio-demographic status, health and health behavior variables explained 8.9% of screening intention. Among them, household monthly income, past cancer screening experience, exercise and daily eating habit were significantly associated with screening intention. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer screening intention may be influenced by focusing attitude, subjective norm in TPB model and other external factors. However, further studies are warranted to identify factors influencing cancer screening intention and behavior.

Clinical Features of Colorectal Cancer Detected by the National Cancer Screening Program

PURPOSE: Since 2004, the National Cancer Screening Program of Korea has included colorectal cancer screening based on primary screening with the fecal occult blood test (FOBT). We report on the clinical features of colorectal cancer detected by the National Cancer Screening Program. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 577 patients who underwent elective surgery for colorectal cancer at the Seoul National University Hospital between January 2008 and December 2009. We compared the clinical features of colorectal cancers detected by the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP group) with those of the control group in terms of age, gender, preoperative symptom, location of the tumor, surgical technique and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. RESULTS: Age, gender, location of the tumor and operation types were not different between the two groups. The proportion of asymptomatic patients was significantly higher in the NCSP group than it was in the control group (86.5% vs. 20.0%; P < 0.001). The proportion of less invasive lesions (T1 or T2) was significantly higher in the NCSP group (46.3% vs. 27.7%; P = 0.002). The pathologic stages of the colorectal cancers in the NCSP group were I, 40.3%; II, 17.9%; III, 40.3% and IV, 1.5% whereas in the control group, they were I, 20.8%; II, 32.9%; III, 34.9% and IV, 11.4%. The proportion of stage I cancer was significantly higher in the NCSP group than in the control group (40.3% vs. 20.8%; P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the FOBT in the NCSP is effective in early detection of colorectal cancer.

Treatment Patterns for Colorectal Cancer Patients at the National Cancer Center Korea in 2003

PURPOSE: In Korea, colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most sharply-increasing malignancies, and the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program for persons over 50 years of age began in 2004. To determine the effectiveness of the program, comparative data regarding CRCs treated prior to 2004 must be analyzed. The present study assessed CRC status at diagnosis and treatment patterns in 2003. METHODS: In 2003, 503 patients were newly diagnosed with CRC and were treated at the Center for Colorectal Cancer, National Cancer Center (NCC). Clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The 503 patients included 256 colon and 247 rectal cancer patients. Of the 256 colon cancer patients, 5 (2.0%) were diagnosed during screening colonoscopies and were successfully treated using an endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and 17 (6.6%) received only palliative chemotherapy because of distant metastases. Forty patients (15.6%) were treated with palliative surgery and chemotherapy, and 194 (75.8%) with curative surgery with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. Of the 247 rectal cancer patients, 9 (3.6%) were treated with an EMR, 20 (8.1%) with palliative chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy, 19 (7.7%) with palliative surgery and chemoradiotherapy, and 199 (80.6%) with curative surgery with or without chemoradiotherapy. Treatment with curative intent was possible in 199 of 256 (77.7%) colon cancer patients and in 208 of 247 (84.2%) rectal cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Only 12.1% of colon and 8.5% of rectal cancer patients were diagnosed early and treated without adjuvant therapies at the NCC in Korea in 2003.