J Korean Med Sci.  2012 May;27(Suppl):S70-S75. 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.S.S70.

National Screening Program for Transitional Ages in Korea: A New Screening for Strengthening Primary Prevention and Follow-up Care

• Kim HS
• Shin DW
• Lee WC
• Kim YT
• Cho B

• KMID: 1714491
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2012.27.S.S70

Abstract

Screening can effectively reduce mortality and morbidity in some diseases. In Korea, a practical national screening program for chronic disease was launched in 1995 and several problems were discussed. The program focused primarily on disease detection without follow-up care. In addition, the test items were uniform regardless of subject's age, sex, or risk factors; and people with low socioeconomic status were excluded. To improve the quality of program, a new national screening program called the "National Screening Program for Transitional Ages (NSPTA)" was initiated in 2007. It targeted two age groups, ages 40 and 66, because these ages are important transition periods in one's lifecycle. Follow-up care and education for lifestyle modification has been intensified; screening tests for mental health problems and osteoporosis have been introduced. The pool of eligible participants has been expanded to include people supported by Medicaid. This review aimed to describe the contents, process, and characteristics of the NSPTA and to compare it with the previous program. In addition, some preliminary results from 2007 to 2009 were presented. Lastly, we suggest several points that need to be considered to improve the program such as enhancement of participation rates, necessity of specialized committee and research for current screening program to be supported by evidence.

Keyword

Mass Screening; Transitional Age; National Health Screening; Korea; Follow-up; Primary Prevention; Secondary Prevention; Health Risk Appraisal; Lifestyle

MeSH Terms

Age Factors
Delivery of Health Care
Humans
*Mass Screening
Primary Prevention
Republic of Korea
Risk Factors
Sex Factors

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Overall process of the NSPTA. *National Screening Program for Transition Ages; †General Health Screening Program.

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  Fig. 2 Participation rates in the NSPTA from 2007 to 2009, stratified according to age and insurance. *Practically, people supported by Medicaid participated in NSPTA from 2008.

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