Article type
Year
Abstract
Introduction: Colorectal cancer is a major public health problem in Australia, being second only to lung cancer as a cause of death. For most of this century there has been a consistently upward trend in age-standardized mortality rates for colorectal cancer in Australian men and women. Mass screening offers the prospect of early disease detection and mortality reduction. Several randomized trials of mass screening for colorectal cancer have been published, one providing evidence of a favourable effect on mortality. Since overall resources are limited, costeffectiveness analysis can assist in setting priorities by comparing the gain in health outcome with the opportunity cost to society of the resources used.
Objective: To estimate the likely costeffectiveness of mass screening for colorectal cancer should it be introduced in Australia.
Methods: Two options were considered. One was to identify all cost-effectiveness analyses of colorectal cancer screening from the literature and adjust them to Australian conditions. However, neither the costs nor the outcomes may be those anticipated in Australia. Our preferred method was to use systematic review to determine the best current estimate of effectiveness in Australia, and then to combine this with an Australian-based valuation of the cost items identified in the literature as essential. Therefore, a computerised literature search was undertaken using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CANCERLIT, and ECONLIT data bases. Key researchers were identified, and approached in writing to provide results of recent work in the area of cost effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening, including unpublished material and conference presentations. The review covered scientific studies, editorial reviews, conference proceedings and papers, consensus statements and guidelines developed by medical and other relevant groups, and reports of national health technology assessment and related agencies.
Results: An estimate of the cost-effectiveness of mass screening for colorectal cancer in Australia will be presented, and the factors influencing this estimate will be discussed.
Objective: To estimate the likely costeffectiveness of mass screening for colorectal cancer should it be introduced in Australia.
Methods: Two options were considered. One was to identify all cost-effectiveness analyses of colorectal cancer screening from the literature and adjust them to Australian conditions. However, neither the costs nor the outcomes may be those anticipated in Australia. Our preferred method was to use systematic review to determine the best current estimate of effectiveness in Australia, and then to combine this with an Australian-based valuation of the cost items identified in the literature as essential. Therefore, a computerised literature search was undertaken using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CANCERLIT, and ECONLIT data bases. Key researchers were identified, and approached in writing to provide results of recent work in the area of cost effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening, including unpublished material and conference presentations. The review covered scientific studies, editorial reviews, conference proceedings and papers, consensus statements and guidelines developed by medical and other relevant groups, and reports of national health technology assessment and related agencies.
Results: An estimate of the cost-effectiveness of mass screening for colorectal cancer in Australia will be presented, and the factors influencing this estimate will be discussed.