Cervical screening programmes: can automation help? Evidence from systematic reviews, an economic analysis and a simulation modelling exercise applied to the UK

Brian H. Willis, Pelham Barton, P Pearmain, Stirling Bryan, Christopher Hyde

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness and costeffectiveness of adding automated image analysis to cervical screening programmes.
Data sources: Searching of all major electronic databases to the end of 2000 was supplemented by a detailed survey for unpublished UK literature.
Method: Four systematic reviews were conducted according to recognised guidance. The review of ‘clinical effectiveness’ included studies assessing reproducibility and impact on health outcomes and processes in addition to evaluations of test accuracy. A discrete event simulation model was developed,
although the economic evaluation ultimately relied on a cost-minimisation analysis.
Results: The predominant finding from the systematic reviews was the very limited amount of rigorous primary research. None of the included studies refers
to the only commercially available automated image analysis device in 2002, the AutoPap Guided Screening (GS) System. The results of the included studies were
debatably most compatible with automated image analysis being equivalent in test performance to manual screening. Concerning process, there was evidence that automation does lead to reductions in average slide processing times. In the PRISMATIC trial this was reduced from 10.4 to 3.9 minutes, a statistically significant and practically important difference. The economic evaluation tentatively suggested that the AutoPap GS System may be efficient. The key proviso is that credible data become available to support that the AutoPap GS System has test performance and processing times equivalent to those obtained for PAPNET.
Conclusions: The available evidence is still insufficient to recommend implementation of automated image analysis systems. The priority for action remains further research, particularly the ‘clinical effectiveness’ of the AutoPap GS System. Assessing the cost-effectiveness of introducing automation alongside other approaches is also a priority.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-207
Number of pages207
JournalHealth Technology Assessment
Volume9
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2005

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