Publication
Evaluation of the National Swiss Skin Cancer Screening Campaign 2013: Do We Do the Right Thing?
Journal Paper/Review - Dec 14, 2017
Braun Ralph-Peter, French Lars E, Hafner Jürg, Dummer Reinhard, Merat Rastine, Arnold Andreas, Gaide Olivier, Hunger Robert, Ulrich Karina, Cozzio Antonio
Units
PubMed
Doi
Citation
Type
Journal
Publication Date
Issn Electronic
Brief description/objective
BACKGROUND
Skin cancer prevention and screening programs are performed in many countries. Their benefit is discussed controversially.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim is to evaluate the Skin Cancer Screening Program 2013 in Switzerland by following up screenees upon interventions.
METHODS
Quality was assessed by personal follow-up via phone/e-mail of every patient that had been screened during this campaign and histological follow-up of all participants with suspicious skin lesions.
RESULTS
Of the 1,087 screenees requiring interventions, 263 agreed to participate in the follow-up. We were able to obtain 66 histology reports. During this campaign 33 malignant lesions (8 melanomas) were removed.
CONCLUSION
The overall melanoma detection rate in our free Skin Cancer Screening Program is comparable to those in European public activities. The costs of free screening programs compare favorably with the prevented potential therapeutic costs of late-stage melanoma. The low response rate of screenees agreeing to be followed up limits conclusions of this study.