ROJoson PEP Talk: Screening and Periodic Health Check

1. Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have
an understanding
of the use of
SCREENING and
PERIODIC HEALTH
CHECK as a
strategy in
STAYING HEALTHY
AND CONTENTED.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

2. Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have
an understanding
of the use of
SCREENING and
PERIODIC HEALTH
CHECK as a
strategy in
STAYING HEALTHY
AND CONTENTED.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
I have a Patient
Empowerment
Program in which I
like to empower the
lay people or
patients to take
control in the
management of
their health.

3. Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have
an understanding
of the use of
SCREENING and
PERIODIC HEALTH
CHECK as a
strategy in
STAYING HEALTHY
AND CONTENTED.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
What I have in mind
in my PEP TALK
which may run for 3
years is to empower
at least 30 persons,
with my family
members and my
patients as a
priority. This is my
key performance
indicator.
I hope you will be in
my group of 30.

4. Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have
an understanding
of the use of
SCREENING and
PERIODIC HEALTH
CHECK as a
strategy in
STAYING HEALTHY
AND CONTENTED.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
I launched this PEP
TALK on May 15,
2021 with MODULE
on COVID19.
2nd Module: PATIENT
EMPOWERMENT
3rd Module: PATIENT
MANAGEMENT
PROCESS
4th Module: RIGHTS
IN PATIENT
EMPOWERMENT

5. Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have
an understanding
of the use of
SCREENING and
PERIODIC HEALTH
CHECK as a
strategy in
STAYING HEALTHY
AND CONTENTED.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
5th Module: STAYING
HEALTHY AND
CONTENTED
5 Parts
• Introduction and
Intentional Living
Plan
• Healthy Lifestyle Plan
• Screening and
Periodic Health
Check
• Early Diagnosis and
Early Treatment
• First Aid and Basic
Medical Care

6. Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have
an understanding
of the use of
SCREENING and
PERIODIC HEALTH
CHECK as a
strategy in
STAYING HEALTHY
AND CONTENTED.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
My PEP TALK today
is entitled: Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening and
Periodic Health
Check.

7. We have heard of various terms such as
executive check-ups, annual physical
examinations, screening, surveillance,
periodic health exam, periodic health
check, etc.
All of them have one thing in common in terms of
purpose – looking for a disease that may be
present in apparently healthy and
asymptomatic persons.
Let me try to dissect and collate the various terms.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

8. Screening is the most encompassing term
that signifies an action to try to detect
potential health disorders or diseases in
people who are apparently healthy and
who do not have any symptoms of a
disease.
The goal of the screening is early detection
of diseases so that they can be treated also
early enough to avoid disability and death.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

9. Screening can be done only once, meaning
on a one-time basis. It may also be done
repeatedly as in periodically, every so
often, the periodicity of which may be
determined based on risk factors of the
patients such as occupation, age, family
history, etc., the recommendations of
organizations and/or wish of the patients.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

10. The annual physical examination (APE) that
is popularly being used in the workplaces
and schools is an example of periodic
screening.
Other screening programs that are being
done periodically are the so-called
executive check-ups and cancer screening
packages.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

11. Executive check-up is a health screening program
originally (historically speaking) being done for
“executives” or people with senior managerial
responsibility in business organizations.
The phrase is still very popular up to these days
even if the screening program has been extended
to just anybody, the common people in the
community.
Hospitals and clinics still use the term “executive
check-up” to market their health screening
programs. There are different packages of
executive check-ups.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

12. Cancer screening packages are those
screening programs being recommended by
different medical organizations and
governments intended for the early
detection of different types of cancer.
Examples are screening packages for breast
cancers, colorectal cancers, prostatic
cancers, cervical cancers, etc.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

13. Periodic health check and periodic health
examination are terms that have started to
be commonly used in the medical world to
refer to the periodic screening instead of
the traditional executive check-ups and
annual physical examinations.
These terms encompass all past and current
screening health programs such as executive
check-ups, annual physical examinations, cancer
screening, and others.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

14. Except for the Newborn Screening Program, in the
Philippines, all existing screening programs are not
mandated by law.
Again, except for occupational, travel and
organizational requirements, subjecting oneself to
a screening program is voluntary.
There may be recommendations from medical
organizations and governmental health ministries
and peddling by hospitals and clinics but the
decision rests on the individual persons.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

15. Medical surveillance – how does it differ
from medical screening or screening?
Screening can be upleveled to medical
surveillance where the connotation is that
there is a need for close monitoring with
screening.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

16. Medical surveillance is usually done in the
following situations:
 After something unusual is found on screening
and there is a need to closely observe or
monitor the findings in order to get to a more
definite diagnosis.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

17. Medical surveillance is usually done in the
following situations:
 After a definite medical condition is found on
screening and there is a need to closely observe
or monitor it as it does not require an active
treatment at the moment, the so-called
expectant management or watch and wait
management.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

18. Medical surveillance is usually done in the
following situations:
 After a treatment of a definite medical
condition or disease has been done (regardless
of whether this medical condition or disease
was found on screening or not) and there is a
need to closely observe and monitor for
persistence or recurrence of the medical
condition or disease. Example: medical
surveillance for cancer recurrence.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

19. How does the World Health Organization define
screening?
The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1994
defines screening as the use of presumptive
methods to detect unrecognized health risks or
asymptomatic disease in apparently healthy
individuals in order to permit prevention and
timely intervention. Screening is performed to
categorize members of the general public into those with
higher or lower probability of disease, with the former group
being urged to seek further medical attention for definitive
diagnosis and treatment.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

20. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC)
or periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO
after removing the legal (Newborn
Screening), occupational, travel, and
organizational requirements.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

21. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
YES, if you and your trusted physician have
assessed that you, generally healthy, have a higher
risk for developing a particular disease because of
a strong family history. Some would use age as an
indication – if there is a high incidence for a
particular disease in a certain age group.
If you should undergo screening, screen only for
the identified disease at risk.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

22. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC)
or periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
NO, if you and your trusted physician have
assessed that you, generally healthy, do not have a
higher risk for developing a particular disease as
compared to the general population in your age
group.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

23. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
Other reasons for NO answers:
Direct reasons:
•Studies have shown that general or routine health
checks had not reduced morbidity or mortality,
neither overall nor for cardiovascular or cancer
causes. https://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e
7191
•Practical recommendation is to be selective, using
risk-based approach.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

24. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
NO - Other reasons:
• Just like in curative medicine, the biggest pitfall
in disease prevention, which screening is a
strategy, is that things that ought to work, do
not always do so. Even the strategy of screening
has had its failures.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

25. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
NO - Other reasons:
• Just like in curative medicine, the biggest pitfall
in disease prevention, which screening is a
strategy, is that things that ought to work do
not always do so. Even the strategy of screening
has had its failures.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
NO - Other reasons:
• The presence of false-positive results in
screening tests has many asymptomatic patients
wrongly labeled as being “ill.”
• Instead of improving the quality of life of people,
this phenomenon of “false labelling” has been
found to wreak havoc on the social,
psychological, physical and financial stability of
unfortunate individuals.
Furthermore, false
positive tests often
lead to a battery of
expensive and
unnecessary follow-
up procedures.

26. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
NO - Other reasons:
• The presence of false-negative results can give a
false assurance that everything is okay, which
may lead people to ignore or minimize new
symptoms.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

27. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
NO - Other reasons:
• A lot of times, pounds of prevention translate to
just an ounce of cure.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

28. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
NO - Other reasons:
• If you don’t go for periodic health checks and
periodic health examinations, make sure to
listen to and watch your body closely for
symptoms of a particular disease. Once
symptoms of a particular disease occur, consult
a physician right away. With this strategy, you
still have an opportunity to catch the disease
early.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

29. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
So - NOT ALWAYS!
There is another option of promoting early
diagnosis aside from periodic health check
– the so-called symptom-based early health
check.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

30. I will be discussing symptom-based
early health check in the next session
under “Early Diagnosis and Early
Treatment.”
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
5th Module: STAYING
HEALTHY AND
CONTENTED
5 Parts
• Introduction and
Intentional Living
Plan
• Healthy Lifestyle Plan
• Screening and
Periodic Health
Check
• Early Diagnosis and
Early Treatment
• First Aid and Basic
Medical Care

31. Focusing now on:
Screening and Periodic Health Check
It is used for people who are asymptomatic,
apparently healthy who are screened for early
detection of diseases so that they can be treated
early enough to avoid disability and death.
I will elaborate on the general methods, specific
methods and tests and utility.
I may make comments on advantages and
disadvantages.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

32. Myths (believed by many but not true)
Screening and Periodic Health Check
Screening and Periodic Health Check must always
be done with laboratory tests and x-rays.
NO. NOT TRUE!
They can be done without laboratory tests
and x-rays such as physical examination
and risk-assessment interview.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

33. Myths (believed by many but not true)
Screening and Periodic Health Check
Screening and Periodic Health Check done with
laboratory tests and x-rays are always conclusive
and always more accurate than without tests.
NO. NOT TRUE!
There are also false-positive and false-
negative with laboratory tests and x-rays.
Thus, they are not always more accurate.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

34. Screening and Periodic Health Check
General Screening Methods (commonly done)
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
• Without use of gadgets, just physical
examination
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
and no physical examination
• With use of gadgets with risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
• With use of gadgets without risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Gadgets – include
instruments used on top of
inspection and palpation
of physical examination
such as thermometer;
blood pressure apparatus;
stethoscope; otoscope;
nasopharyngoscope;
ophthalmoscope;
endoscopy; blood
examination; imaging
procedures (ultrasound, x-
rays, CT scan, MRI, nuclear
scan); etc.

35. Screening and Periodic Health Check
General Screening Methods (commonly done)
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
• Without use of gadgets, just physical
examination
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
and no physical examination
• With use of gadgets with risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
• With use of gadgets without risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Risk-assessment interview
means asking the patient /
person to explore for
possible presence of
significant risk-factors for a
medical condition/s or
disease/s.
Physical examination
means doing examination
such as inspection and
palpation of the body of a
patient / person using the
5 senses of the physician
and without use of
gadgets.

36. Screening and Periodic Health Check
General Screening Methods (commonly done)
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
• Without use of gadgets, just physical
examination
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
and no physical examination
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Risk-assessment interview
means asking the patient /
person to explore for
possible presence of
significant risk-factors for a
medical condition/s or
disease/s.
Physical examination
means doing examination
such as inspection and
palpation of the body of a
patient / person using the
5 senses of the physician
and without use of
gadgets.

37. Screening and Periodic Health Check
General Screening Methods (commonly done)
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
• Without use of gadgets, just physical
examination
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
and no physical examination
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Physical examination
means doing examination
such as inspection and
palpation of the body of a
patient / person using the
5 senses of the physician
and without use of
gadgets.
Example:
Annual PE in schools
without lab tests

38. Screening and Periodic Health Check
General Screening Methods (commonly done)
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
• Without use of gadgets, just physical
examination
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
and no physical examination
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Can be done but not
as effective as with
physical examination
Risk-assessment interview
means asking the patient /
person to explore for
possible presence of
significant risk-factors for a
medical condition/s or
disease/s.
Example: History of close contact with COVID19
patients – high risk for COVID19 infection,
asymptomatic

39. Screening and Periodic Health Check
General Screening Methods (commonly done)
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
• Without use of gadgets, just physical
examination
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
and no physical examination
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Risk-assessment interview
means asking the patient /
person to explore for
possible presence of
significant risk-factors for a
medical condition/s or
disease/s.
Physical examination
means doing examination
such as inspection and
palpation of the body of a
patient / person using the
5 senses of the physician
and without use of
gadgets.
Comparing the effectiveness of the 3 methods,
best will be that with risk-assessment interview
and physical examination. PE can explore and
investigate risk assessed in the interview.

40. Screening and Periodic Health Check
General Screening Methods (commonly done)
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Risk-assessment interview
means asking the patient /
person to explore for
possible presence of
significant risk-factors for a
medical condition/s or
disease/s.
Physical examination
means doing examination
such as inspection and
palpation of the body of a
patient / person using the
5 senses of the physician
and without use of
gadgets.
Example:
Risk-assessment interview: (+) significant risk for
breast cancer in a 50 year-old female
When doing physical examination, allot more time
and effort on the breast for possible breast cancer.

41. Screening and Periodic Health Check
General Screening Methods (commonly done)
• Without use of gadgets, just risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Risk-assessment interview
means asking the patient /
person to explore for
possible presence of
significant risk-factors for a
medical condition/s or
disease/s.
Physical examination
means doing examination
such as inspection and
palpation of the body of a
patient / person using the
5 senses of the physician
and without use of
gadgets.
Example:
Risk-assessment interview: (+) significant risk for
stroke in a 60 year-old male
When doing physical examination, allot more time
and effort on neurologic examination, heart
rhythm, etc.

42. Screening and Periodic Health Check
General Screening Methods (commonly done)
• With use of gadgets with risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
• With use of gadgets without risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Gadgets – include
instruments used on top of
inspection and palpation
of physical examination
such as thermometer;
blood pressure apparatus;
stethoscope; otoscope;
nasopharyngoscope;
ophthalmoscope;
endoscopy; blood
examination; imaging
procedures (ultrasound, x-
rays, CT scan, MRI, nuclear
scan); etc.
Comparing the effectiveness of the 2 methods,
risk-assessment interview and physical
examination with screening gadgets is better
because findings on interview and PE can be
correlated with those on gadgets to reduce the
problems of false-positive and false-negative
conclusions.

43. Screening and Periodic Health Check
General Screening Methods (commonly done)
• With use of gadgets with risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
• With use of gadgets without risk-assessment
interview and physical examination
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Gadgets – include
instruments used on top of
inspection and palpation
of physical examination
such as thermometer;
blood pressure apparatus;
stethoscope; otoscope;
nasopharyngoscope;
ophthalmoscope;
endoscopy; blood
examination; imaging
procedures (ultrasound, x-
rays, CT scan, MRI, nuclear
scan); etc.
Comparing the cost-effectiveness of the 2
methods, gadgets with risk-assessment interview
and physical examination is better as the latter will
rationalize the use of former - screening gadgets
(i.e. done only when indicated).

44. Screening and Periodic Health Check
Examples of screening gadgets being used:
• Thermometer – temperature
• Blood pressure apparatus – blood pressure
• Weighing scale – weight
• Stethoscope – heart beat and breathing
• Otoscope – ear
• Nasopharyngoscope – nose and throat
• Ophthalmoscope – eyes
• Blood examination – blood contents
• Urinalysis – urine
• Endoscopy – scoping any part of the body
• Imaging procedures – any part of the body
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Gadgets – include
instruments used on top of
inspection and palpation
of physical examination
such as thermometer;
blood pressure apparatus;
stethoscope; otoscope;
nasopharyngoscope;
ophthalmoscope;
endoscopy; blood
examination; imaging
procedures (ultrasound, x-
rays, CT scan, MRI, nuclear
scan); etc.

45. Screening and Periodic Health Check
Examples of screening gadgets being used:
• Thermometer – temperature
• Blood pressure apparatus – blood pressure
• Weighing scale – weight
• Stethoscope – heart beat and breathing
• Otoscope – ear
• Nasopharyngoscope – nose and throat
• Ophthalmoscope – eyes
• Blood examination – blood contents
• Urinalysis – urine
• Endoscopy – scoping any part of the body
• Imaging procedures – any part of the body
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Gadgets – include
instruments used on top of
inspection and palpation
of physical examination
such as thermometer;
blood pressure apparatus;
stethoscope; otoscope;
nasopharyngoscope;
ophthalmoscope;
endoscopy; blood
examination; imaging
procedures (ultrasound, x-
rays, CT scan, MRI, nuclear
scan); etc.
Once or repeatedly
as indicated

46. Example of use of THERMOMETER (FEVER) as a
screening tool
Screening for possible COVID19 infection during
pandemic
Presence of fever – suspect COVID19 infection
There are false-positive (not all fever are
COVID19).
There are false-negative (not all COVID19 patients
present with fever).
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

47. Example of use of BLOOD PRESSURE APPARATUS
as a screening tool
Screening for possible HYPERTENSION.
Persistently elevated BP above normal -
HYPERTENSION.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

48. Example of use of WEIGHING SCALE as a screening
tool
Screening for UNDERWEIGHT, OVERWEIGHT, and
OBESITY.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

49. Example of use of COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)
as a screening tool
Screening for blood disorders
May detect ANEMIA, LEUKEMIA, and
THROMBOCYTOPENIA.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

50. Example of use of URINALYSIS as a screening tool
Screening for urinary infection and kidney disease
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

51. Example of use of Chest X-ray as a screening tool
Screening for Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

52. Screening Methods for Diabetes
• Risk-assessment Interview – higher risk if with
family history of diabetes
• Fasting plasma glucose test or FBS
• HgA1c
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

53. Screening Methods for Hypercholesterolemia
• Risk-assessment Interview – higher risk if with
family history of hypercholesterolemia
• Lipid Panel
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

54. Screening Methods for Breast Cancer
• Risk-assessment Interview – higher risk if with
family history of breast cancer
• Breast self-examination
• Physician breast examination
• Mammography
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

55. Screening Methods for Colorectal Cancer
• Risk-assessment Interview – higher risk if with
family history of colorectal cancer
• Rectal examination
• Fecal occult blood test (Fecal Immunochemical
Test – FIT)
• Colonoscopy
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

56. Screening Methods for Prostatic Cancer
• Risk-assessment Interview – higher risk if with
family history of prostatic cancer
• Rectal examination
• PSA – Prostatic Surface Antigen
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

57. Screening Methods for Cervical Cancer
• Risk-assessment Interview – higher risk if with
family history of cervical cancer
• PAP Smear
• HPV Test
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

58. Screening Methods for Lung Cancer
• Risk-assessment Interview – higher risk if with
family history of lung cancer
• Low-dose CT Scan
• Chest X-ray
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

59. There you are.
Screening and Periodic Health Check
I have given you examples of screening methods
using different approaches – risk-assessment
interview, physical examination and use of
gadgets.
Periodic Health Check means the screening is done
from time to time (at certain intervals, regularly or
not – meaning as needed).
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

60. In this era of commercialism in medicine and
health care,
where there are a lot of hospitals and laboratory
clinics peddling screening packages,
one should understand the
• indications
• pros and cons
of screening and periodic health check.
Don’t be swayed easily by the marketing and
discount offers.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

61. The most cost-effective indication is still to have
screening and periodic health check if there is a
high risk for a certain disease.
The other indication is to do screening and
periodic health check (especially using expensive
gadgets) only if there is a good chance for a
curative treatment of the discovered disease.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

62. Another advice is to look at the scientific data on
cost-effectiveness of screening and periodic health
checks.
Good sources of information:
• US Preventive Service Task Force
• Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

63. Example of use of COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)
as a screening tool
One of the most abused blood test.
Clinical question
Is there evidence for screening with complete blood count
(CBC) in asymptomatic, nonpregnant adults?
Bottom line
Neither CBC nor its components should be ordered for
screening asymptomatic, nonpregnant adults, as it does not
reduce mortality. Up to 11% of results are abnormal but less
than 1% of results require management change.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
https://www.ncbi.nl
m.nih.gov/pmc/artic
les/PMC5638475/?f
bclid=IwAR2PU-
MEyDUd6DwuZA7N
hZrnNXFDzdRS2Dvk
TgcXmGki0opef5CM
DzsYji8

64. Example of use of URINALYSIS as a screening tool
Another commonly abused test.
Not recommended except in pregnant
women.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
https://www.uspreve
ntiveservicestaskforce
.org/uspstf/recomme
ndation/asymptomati
c-bacteriuria-in-
adults-screening
US PSTF

65. Lipid Panel
Recommendations:
• Screen men age 35 and older for lipid disorders.
• Screen women age 45 and older for lipid
disorders if they are at increased risk for
coronary heart disease.
• Men age 20 to 35 and women age 20 to 45 that
are at increased risk for coronary heart disease
should be screened for lipid disorder.
• Reasonable options for screening interval
include: every 5 years; screening at 5 years for
low-risk people who have had low or repeatedly
normal lipid levels.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
USPSTF - 2020
NOT EVERY YEAR!

66. Breast Cancer Screening
Recommendations:
• In women aged 40 to 49 years, mammography is
not recommended
• In women aged 50 to 74 years, mammography
every 2 to 3 years is recommended
• Magnetic resonance imaging, computed
tomography, and ultrasound scans are not
recommended for screening
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Canadian TFPH -
2021
NOTE THE AGE!

67. In this era of commercialism in medicine and
health care,
where there are a lot of hospitals and laboratory
clinics peddling screening packages,
one should understand the
• indications
• pros and cons
of screening and periodic health check.
Don’t be swayed easily by the marketing and
discount offers.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

68. Screening and Periodic Health Check is used for
people who are asymptomatic, apparently healthy
who are screened for early detection of diseases
so that they can be treated early enough to avoid
disability and death.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Conclusion
Take Away

69. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
YES, if you and your trusted physician have
assessed that you, generally healthy, have a higher
risk for developing a particular disease because of
a strong family history.
If you should undergo screening, screen only for
the identified disease at risk.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Conclusion
Take Away

70. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC)
or periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
NO, if you and your trusted physician have
assessed that you, generally healthy, do not have a
higher risk for developing a particular disease as
compared to the general population in your age
group.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check
Conclusion
Take Away

71. Should I have a periodic health check (PHC) or
periodic health examination (PHE)?
The answer is YES and NO.
NO
If you don’t go for periodic health checks and
periodic health examinations, make sure to listen
to and watch your body closely for symptoms of a
particular disease. Once symptoms of a particular
disease occur, consult a physician right away.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

72. Symptom-based early health check means that at
the onset of symptom, a patient consults a
physician right away for early diagnosis so that a
discovered disease can be treated early enough to
avoid disability and death.
Symptom-based early health check also carries an
opportunity to catch the disease early.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

73. A thing that has to be emphasized also:
If an early staged disease is diagnosed, whether
from periodic health check or from symptom-
based health check, this should be followed by
early treatment to get good results.
A late treatment by the patient for whatever
reasons will negate the gain of the early diagnosis.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check

74. Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have
an understanding
of the use of
SCREENING and
PERIODIC HEALTH
CHECK as a
strategy in
STAYING HEALTHY
AND CONTENTED.
Staying
Healthy and
Contented –
Screening
and Periodic
Health Check