INTRODUCTION: The high prevalence and mortality rates of breast cancer and lung cancer in Singapore necessitate robust screening programmes to enable early detection and intervention for improved patient outcomes, yet 2024 uptake and coverage remain suboptimal. This narrative review synthesises expert perspectives from a recent roundtable discussion and proposes strategies to advance breast cancer and lung cancer screening programmes. METHOD: A 2024 roundtable convened clinical practitioners, health policymakers, researchers and patient advocates discussed current challenges and opportunities for improving cancer screening in Singapore. Perspectives and insights were analysed to identify themes related to existing programme gaps, opportunities for innovation and implementation challenges. DISCUSSION: Singapore's national breast cancer screening programme has been in place for over 2 decades, yet screening uptake remains suboptimal. A national lung cancer screening programme, in contrast, is still in its early stages of implementation. Regardless, employment of risk stratification approaches that integrate genetic, demographic and lifestyle factors could enhance screening effectiveness by identifying high-risk indivi-duals, while also taking local epidemiological trends into consideration. Integration of digital health technologies, artificial intelligence and behavioural change models can enhance cancer screening uptake and accuracy to overcome barriers such as low awareness, cultural beliefs and socioeconomic factors that contribute to low participation rates. CONCLUSION Key recommendations include enhancing public awareness, refining screening guidelines, expanding access and applying innovative technologies. A coordinated effort among stakeholders is crucial to continually assess and enhance screening programmes to narrow the practice-policy gap and ultimately reduce breast cancer and lung cancer burden in Singapore.
Humans ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Lung Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Early Detection of Cancer/methods* ; Female ; Mass Screening/organization & administration*

In recognition of the morbidity and mortality associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (UNAIDS) aims to end the epidemic by setting and striving to achieve the ambitious 95-95-95 targets. However, Singapore is still not performing well in the first UNAIDS target. The National HIV Programme (NHIVP) developed this set of recommendations based on an adaptation of major international guidelines from the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goals of this recommendation are: (1) to increase the uptake of HIV testing; (2) to allow earlier detection and identification of individuals with unrecognised HIV infection; (3) to facilitate linkage to clinical services; and (4) reduce further transmission of HIV infection in Singapore.
Humans ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; United States ; HIV Testing ; Mass Screening ; World Health Organization ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. ; National Health Programs

In Taiwan, high-risk patients have been identified and tested for preventing community spread of COVID-19. Most sample collection was performed in emergency departments (EDs). Traditional sample collection requires substantial personal protective equipment (PPE), healthcare professionals, sanitation workers, and isolation space. To solve this problem, we established a multifunctional sample collection station (MSCS) for COVID-19 testing in front of our ED. The station is composed of a thick and clear acrylic board (2 cm), which completely separates the patient and medical personnel. Three pairs of gloves (length, 45 cm) are attached and fixed on the outside wall of the MSCS. The gloves are used to conduct sampling of throat/nasal swabs, sputum, and blood from patients. The gap between the board and the building is only 0.2 cm (sealed with silicone sealant). ED personnel communicate with patients using a small two-way broadcast system. Medical waste is put in specific trashcans installed in the table outside the MSCS. With full physical protection, the personnel conducting the sampling procedure need to wear only their N95 mask and gloves. After we activated the station, our PPE, sampling time, and sanitization resources were considerably conserved during the 4-week observation period. The MSCS obviously saved time and PPE. It elevated the efficiency and capacity of the ED for handling potential community infections of COVID-19.
Betacoronavirus ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; organization & administration ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Pandemics ; Personal Protective Equipment ; supply & distribution ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Taiwan ; epidemiology

PURPOSE: Heart failure (HF) is considered an important medical burden with rehospitalization and mortality. Anemia is a major risk factor associated with the severity of HF. To improve the understanding of the impact of anemia in the population with HF, we explored the prevalence of anemia, its guidelines, relationship between anemia and mortality or rehospitalization, and limitation of reviewed papers of various populations with HF.METHODS: We used Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review methodology (2005), and thirty research papers were analyzed. PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsychInfo, Embase, Web of Science were searched for papers published between January 1960-June 2018.RESULTS: Anemia in individuals with HF was primarily defined using the World Health Organization guideline. The prevalence of anemia in patients with HF varied from 9% to 56.7%. Moreover, such a condition significantly increases the prevalence of mortality or rehospitalization in patients with HF. The analyzed majority were non-prospective cohort study including secondary data analysis.CONCLUSION: Anemia in individuals with HF is a significant risk factor of mortality and rehospitalization. Prospective cohort studies should be designed to identify the optimal value for screening anemia and the impact of anemia on rehospitalization and mortality among HF patients.
Anemia ; Cohort Studies ; Heart Failure ; Heart ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Statistics as Topic ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: We examined the prevalence of anemia, annual screening for anemia, and treatment of anemia with iron among children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: A retrospective study of U.S. pediatric patients with IBD was performed in the MarketScan commercial claims database from 2010–2014. Children (ages 1–21) with at least two inpatient or outpatient encounters for IBD who had available lab and pharmacy data were included in the cohort. Anemia was defined using World Health Organization criteria. We used logistic regression to determine differences in screening, incident anemia, and treatment based on age at first IBD encounter and sex. RESULTS: The cohort (n=2,446) included 1,560 Crohn's disease (CD) and 886 ulcerative colitis (UC). Approximately, 85% of CD and 81% of UC were screened for anemia. Among those screened, 51% with CD and 43% with UC had anemia. Only 24% of anemia patients with CD and 20% with UC were tested for iron deficiency; 85% were iron deficient. Intravenous (IV) iron was used to treat 4% of CD and 4% UC patients overall and 8% of those with anemia. CONCLUSION: At least 80% of children with IBD were screened for anemia, although most did not receive follow-up tests for iron deficiency. The 43%–50% prevalence of anemia was consistent with prior studies. Under-treatment with IV iron points to a potential target for quality improvement.
Anemia ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Inpatients ; Iron ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Outpatients ; Pharmacy ; Prevalence ; Quality Improvement ; Retrospective Studies ; United States ; World Health Organization

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the associations of suicidal ideation (SI) evaluated within 2 weeks after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) episode with functioning, disability, and quality of life (QOL) at a 1-year follow-up assessment. METHODS: This study recruited 1152 consecutive patients within 2 weeks of a confirmed ACS episode; 828 of these patients who were followed up 1 year later comprised the study sample. SI was determined at baseline using the “suicidal thoughts” item of the MontgomeryÅsberg Depression Rating Scale. At both examinations, social and occupational functioning were measured by the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), disability was estimated by World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule-12 (WHODAS-12), and QOL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Abbreviated form (WHOQOL-BREF). Baseline covariates included sociodemographic data, depression characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, and current cardiac status. RESULTS: SI at baseline was independently associated with less improved or decreased scores on the SOFAS, WHODAS-12, and WHOQOL-BREF over 1 year after adjusting for relevant covariates. CONCLUSION: SI within 2 weeks of an ACS episode predicted poorer functioning and QOL at a 1-year follow-up assessment. Thus, the simple evaluation of SI in patients with recently developed ACS could be helpful in screening for functioning and QOL during the chronic phase of this disease.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Depression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Social Adjustment ; Suicidal Ideation ; World Health Organization

No abstract available.
Cerebral Infarction ; Global Health ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Retrospective Studies ; World Health Organization

Human echinococcosis is an infectious disease caused by tapeworms belonging to the species Echinococcus. This parasite has a worldwide distribution and is considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Due to the diversity of Echinococcus spp. hosts, as well as variation in geographical, climatic, and socio-ethnic conditions, the question of the strains or genotypes of Echinococcus spp. that are involved in human infections is important. The aim of this study was to provide a summary of the available data on genotypes of Echinococcus obtained from the Iranian population. Four international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science) and 4 Persian databases (Magiran, Scientific Information Database, Iran Medex, and IranDoc) were searched for cross-sectional studies that reported the genotypes of Echinococcus spp. in human echinococcosis cases using molecular methods in Iran through July 2018. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the selected studies. A total of 559 cases of human cystic echinococcosis were reported in the 21 included articles. The majority of cases belonged to genotype G1 (89.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 80.1 to 95.8), genotype G6 (8.2%; 95% CI, 2.8 to 15.9), and genotype G3 (2.3%; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.9). Since genotype G1 of Echinococcus appears to be the most prevalent genotype affecting humans in Iran, disease control initiatives aimed at sheep intermediate hosts may be the most beneficial. In addition, educational programs and serological screening in individuals may help reduce the national impact of the disease.
Cestoda ; Communicable Diseases ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Echinococcosis ; Echinococcus ; Genotype ; Humans ; Iran ; Mass Screening ; Parasites ; Sheep ; World Health Organization

Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a substantial public health burden, and it is increasingly affecting populations in Asian countries. The overall prevalence of CRC is reported to be low in Asia when compared with that in Western nations, yet it had the highest number of prevalent cases. This review described the prevalence of CRC in Asia according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer from World Health Organization (WHO) database and summarized its major risk factors. Non-modifiable factors include genetic factors, ethnicity, age, gender, family history and body height; smoking, alcohol drinking, weight, Westernized diet, physical inactivity, chronic diseases and microbiota were involved in environmental factors. These risk factors were separately discussed in this review according to published literature from Asian countries. CRC screening has been playing an important role in reducing its disease burden. Some recommendations on its screening practices have been formulated in guidelines for Asia Pacific countries.
Alcohol Drinking ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Height ; Chronic Disease ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diet ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; International Agencies ; Mass Screening ; Microbiota ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; World Health Organization

Developmental delays are common in childhood, occurring in 10%-15% of preschool children. Global developmental delays are less common, occurring in 1%-3% of preschool children. Developmental delays are identified during routine checks by the primary care physician or when the parent or preschool raises concerns. Assessment for developmental delay in primary care settings should include a general and systemic examination, including plotting growth centiles, hearing and vision assessment, baseline blood tests if deemed necessary, referral to a developmental paediatrician, and counselling the parents. It is important to follow up with the parents at the earliest opportunity to ensure that the referral has been activated. For children with mild developmental delays, in the absence of any red flags for development and no abnormal findings on clinical examination, advice on appropriate stimulation activities can be provided and a review conducted in three months' time.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Developmental Disabilities ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Parents ; Pediatrics ; methods ; Physical Examination ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Primary Health Care ; organization & administration ; Referral and Consultation ; Singapore