False-negative results in screening programmes: systematic review of impact and implications

Petticrew M P, Sowden A J, Lister-Sharp D, Wright K
Record ID 32000008231
English
Authors' objectives:

- to determine the consequences of false-negative findings - to investigate how their adverse effects can be minimised - to assess their implications for the NHS, including the impact of false-negatives on public confidence in screening programmes - to identify relevant theoretical perspectives that may be potentially useful when considering the implications of false-negative results.

Authors' recommendations: False-negatives are evident in all screening programmes, even when the quality of the service provided is high. They may have the potential to delay the detection of breast and cervical cancer, but there is little evidence to help assess their psychological consequences in these or other screening programmes. False-negatives are likely to lead to legal action being taken by those individuals affected, and potentially may reduce public confidence in screening. Their impact may be reduced by the provision of full information to participants about the benefits and harms of screening programmes, and by increasing public education on these issues.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.hta.ac.uk/1010
Year Published: 2000
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
  • False Negative Reactions
  • Mass Screening
  • Predictive Value of Tests
Contact
Organisation Name: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme
Contact Address: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK
Contact Name: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Contact Email: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Copyright: 2009 Queen's Printer and Controller of HMSO
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.