Czech National Cancer Screening Programmes in 2010.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Three EU-recommended cancer screening programs (breast, colorectal, cervical) are available in the Czech Republic.
• Organized screening programs have been implemented within the last decade.
• An information support system is integral to these organized screening programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation and initial impact of organized cancer screening programs in the Czech Republic.
• To assess the coverage and early detection rates of breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening.
• To highlight the role of information systems in monitoring and improving screening program performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Czech National Cancer Registry, National Reference Centre, and specialized screening program databases.
• Monitored screening, diagnostic, and final diagnosis information.
• Analyzed coverage rates and tumor detection data for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening programs.

Main Results:

• Screening coverage in 2008 was 51.2% for breast, 17.9% for colorectal, and 48.4% for cervical cancer.
• In 2008, 468,419 women underwent mammography, detecting 2,128 tumors. In 2009, over 13,000 colonoscopies detected 619 colorectal cancers, mostly early-stage.
• The cervical screening information system was implemented in 2009, with initial results pending.

Conclusions:

• The information support system facilitates performance monitoring and quality improvement of screening centers.
• Significant increases in test coverage are necessary to impact population cancer incidence and mortality.
• Transitioning to population-based screening, involving invitations to the entire target population, is recommended.