Table 4 Definition or explanation of selected terms and phrases finalized with help from the experts
A policy framework (included in essential criteria no. 4) from the implementing organization (which may be governmental or non-governmental) defines the financial support, governance structure, goals and objectives of the screening programme to guide implementation and evaluation. It should describe the cooperation and the relationships between the stake-holders involved in the preparation, decision-making and implementation of the screening programmes. Auditing (included in essential criteria no. 9) is performed by sampling some or for all screening histories from the entire target population to identify the following groups of ‘screening failures’: • Cancers occurring in individuals who were not screened within the recommended interval • Cancers occurring in individuals who were screened and found to have an abnormality, but were not appropriately managed • Individuals who were adequately screened within the recommended interval with apparently normal results but developed cancer prior to next screening round. Cancers occurring outside target age group, overtreatment or screening related complications also need to be considered with the framework of auditing. Continued training (both knowledge-based and skill-based) (included in essential criteria no. 15) is ensured by the screening programme for all personnel involved in the screening pathway, including periodic refresher training and the supervisory support for new health providers. Such training can be provided by the programme or other stakeholders and is also regularly monitored. The service providers need regular feedbacks on their performance. The legal framework (included in desirable criteria no. 6) provides a legal mandate to the appropriate data protection safeguards and recognizes that a balance between fundamental rights of privacy and access to health services is crucial. The regulation of personal data safety, cancer screening registration, and the linkage between screening related data and other relevant data sources is necessary for effective screening management |