Community Medicine (PSM) · Screening of Diseases and Health Concepts

Wilson and Jungner's criteria for a good screening programme include all of the following EXCEPT:

  • A The condition should be an important health problem
  • B The natural history of the condition should be well understood
  • C There should be an accepted treatment for patients with recognized disease
  • D The screening test should be applied only to high-risk individuals
Correct answer: D. The screening test should be applied only to high-risk individuals

Explanation

Wilson and Jungner (1968 WHO criteria) for screening include: (1) important health problem; (2) natural history well understood; (3) recognizable early/latent stage; (4) acceptable treatment for recognized disease; (5) suitable test available; (6) test acceptable to population; (7) facilities for diagnosis and treatment available; (8) agreed policy on who to treat; (9) cost-benefit analysis favorable; (10) ongoing/continuous process. The criteria do NOT restrict screening to only high-risk groups — mass screening covers entire defined populations. Targeted screening of high-risk groups is a selective strategy, not a Wilson-Jungner criterion.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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