Public health policy and practice
Quality assurance for screening mammography: an international
comparison
C Klabundea, F Bouchardb, S Taplinc, A Scharpantgend, R Ballard-Barbasha, for the International Breast Cancer
Screening Network (IBSN)
a National Cancer
Institute (NCI), Bethesda, USA, b Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada, c Group Health Cooperative of
Puget Sound, Seattle, USA, d Programme
Mammographie, Ministere de la Sante, Luxembourg
Correspondence to: Dr Klabunde, NCI/DCCPS/ARP, Health Services and Economics Branch, EPN Room 4005, 6130 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892-7344, USA (ck97b{at}nih.gov)
Accepted for publication 5 October 2000
STUDY OBJECTIVE
In
1998, the International Breast Cancer Screening Network (IBSN)
sponsored an assessment of quality assurance policies and practices to
define their scope for population-based screening mammography
programmes across IBSN countries.
DESIGNAnalysis of
data from a survey designed to assess multiple elements of screening
programme quality assurance, including organisation of quality
assurance activities, mechanisms for site visits and accreditation,
requirements for quality control and data systems, and inclusion of
treatment, follow up, and programme evaluation in screening mammography
quality assurance activities.
PARTICIPANTS AND
SETTINGIBSN representatives in 23 countries
completed a comprehensive questionnaire between May and December 1998.
MAIN RESULTSCompleted
questionnaires were obtained from all 23 countries. Responses indicated
that countries vary in their approaches to implementing quality
assurance, although all monitor components of structure, process, and
outcome. Nearly all have in place laws, surveillance mechanisms, or
standards for quality assurance. In all countries, quality assurance
activities extend beyond the screening mammography examination.
CONCLUSIONSThe
assessment has enhanced understanding of the organisation of screening
mammography programmes across countries, as well as the comparability
of screening mammography data. All countries have established
mechanisms for assuring the quality of screening mammography in
population-based programmes, although these mechanisms vary across countries.
Keywords: mass screening; breast cancer; quality assurance
© 2001 by Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
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[Abstract] [Full Text] -
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[Abstract] [Full Text]
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