A cost-effectiveness analysis of cervical cancer screening: health policy implications

This paper presents a framework for comparison of screening programme designs, based on efficiency and cost effectiveness criteria. The design parameters, such as choice of screening interval, which population segments to screen and expected participation rates in the selected population segments, are varied simultaneously. The costs and effects for a range of existing and hypothetical screening programmes against cervical cancer are estimated, using a mathematical simulation model. On the basis of these estimates average costs per life year and marginal costs per life year are calculated for a range of programmes. These calculations result in the definition of a range of inefficient programmes. Moreover, it is illustrated that the cost effectiveness of the efficient screening programmes decreases at an increasing rate as programmes are intensified either by way of shortening the screening interval or extending the target population segment to encompass the very young and/or the very old. The conclusion of this paper is that one should probably not extend screening programmes against cervical cancer beyond screening women in the age group 25-59 years every 4 years. In addition, increasing the participation rate of this group is a more cost effective way of increasing the number of life years gained, rather than extending the target group or decreasing the screening interval.