Changes in cancer screening process in primary care during the covid-19 pandemic - A record-based descriptive study

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia

A record-based descriptive study evaluates how many cancer screening services in primary care occurred during the covid-19 pandemic and whether screening volumes differed from the pre-pandemic period. Screening numbers for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers were extracted from family health centers and KETEM units in Gaziantep between January 2017 and December 2020. Results show marked monthly declines in 2020, with reduced screening populations and percentages versus other years.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Brief Communication Changes in cancer screening process in primary care during the covid-19 pandemic. A record-based descriptive study Yıldız BüyükdereliAtadağ, MD, Ahmet T. Türkmen, MD, Ahmet Öksüz, MD, HamitS. Keten, MD, Muhammet R. Aydin, MD. ABSTRACT Objectives: To reveal the number of cancer screeningsin primary care during the pandemic period and whether there is a change in screening compared to the pre-pandemic period. Methods: This record-based descriptive study was carried out by evaluating the number of people who applied to family health centers or cancer early diagnosis, screening, and education center (KETEM) units for cancer screening (breast, cervical, and colorectal) for any reason. The study data were scanned between January 2017 and December 2020 and were obtained from the Gaziantep Provincial Health Directorate Cancer Branch. Results: Breast cancer screening was the highest in December 2019 (n=2971), cervical cancer screening was the highest in October 2019 (n=4693), and colon cancer screening was the highest in September 2019 (n=2464) . Breast cancer screening was the lowest in August 2020 (n=0), cervical cancer screening was the lowest in May 2020 (n=6), and colon cancer screening was the lowest in February and March 2018. Although the target populations and percentages in breast cancer, cervical cancer and colon cancer screenings increased with the following years, the screening populations and percentages decreased in 2020 compared to other years (percentages, 4.4%, 6.2%, 1.9%) . Conclusion: For cancers that can be prevented by early diagnosis, it is of great importance to increase cancer screenings, which have decreased with the pandemic, to the required level. Keywords: pandemic, cancer screenings, primary care, Covid-19 Saudi MedJ 2023; Vol. 44 (6): 621-624 doi: 10.15537/smj.2023.44.6.20220580 Breaarestp, ecervicarformel,d and colorectal cancer screeningsin primary care. Cervical cancer screenings include the papanicolaou test (Pap smear test) and human papillomavirus (HPV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing. Breast cancer screenings are performed with a mammography and breast examination, while colorectal cancer screenings are performed with fecal occult blood (FOB) tests and a colonoscopy.1 Women should start getting Pap smear tests from ages 30-65 (including the ages of 30 and 65), with an HPV or Pap smear test every 5 years in Turkey.2 The breast cancer screening program in Turkey invites women aged 40-69 to undergo digital/conventional mammography every 2 years. A breast examination is also recommended for every woman screened to increase effectiveness. Women older than 20 should be advised to perform breast self-exams.3 For colorectal cancer screening, everyone between ages 50 and 70 should have an FOB test every 2 years and a colonoscopy every 10 years. Screening is recommended after age 40 for those with a first-degree relative and a history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps.4 During the pandemic, the Ministry of Health directed patients primarily to family health centers (FHCs) to reduce the potential crowding of secondary and tertiary healthcare providers. With this practice, a plan and program were made on how to conduct such services in primary care, aiming to reduce the density that may occur in FHC and the associated risk of disease transmission.5 These plans recommended that cancer screenings be temporarily postponed. This study aimed to reveal the extent to which routine cancer screenings in primary care could be performed during the pandemic and whether there has been a change compared to the pre-pandemic period. Methods. This record-based descriptive study was carried out by evaluating the number of people who applied to family health centers or cancer early diagnosis, screening, and education center (KETEM) units for cancer screening (breast, cervical, and colorectal) for any reason. The cancer screening tests currently performed in our c

FAQs

What was the study's objective regarding cancer screening during the pandemic?

To determine how many cancer screenings occurred in primary care during the pandemic and whether screening changed compared with the pre-pandemic period.

How were screening numbers collected and which services were assessed?

The study evaluated people who applied to family health centers or KETEM units for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening, and scanned records from January 2017 to December 2020.

What were the main findings about screening in 2020 versus other years?

Screening populations and percentages decreased in 2020 compared with other years, with specific lows reported for breast, cervical, and colon cancer screenings.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia