Published effects of screening in parental and child health care

OBJECTIVE: A summary of research data on the evaluation of eight screening activities in Child Health Care in the Netherlands. DESIGN: Literature review. SETTING: Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands. METHOD: The literature was reviewed regarding screening effects on congenital hip pathology, congenital heart disease, retained testis, hydrocephalus, hearing loss, psychomotor retardation, visual disabilities, and phenylketonuria (PKU) and congenital hypothyroidism (CHT). RESULTS: For 8 types of screenings 17 targets could be established. Targets were defined in terms of a decrease of the adverse outcome of the diseases as a result of the screening. The efficacy of the screening for 3 of these targets (decrease of the adverse outcomes of PKU and CHT and needless orchidopexy) was convincingly established. For the other targets the available data were insufficient. Data on undesirable effects of screening were scarce. For 6 of the 8 screening activities some data on test properties were available. CONCLUSION: Research data on the effects of screening in Child Health Care in the Netherlands are incomplete. It is important to improve the scientific basis of these prevention activities.