Please respond to discussion below using current APA edition and 2 scholarly references
A screening test is a clinical exam, questionnaire, procedure, laboratory test, or radiological test performed on an asymptomatic individual to determine the probability of a specific disease (Aggarwal et al., 2022). A positive screening test does not always mean the individual has the disease, but further workup is typically necessary. Healthcare providers may recommend several screening tests depending on the patient’s age, sex, and risk factors. Routine health screenings and preventative health allow healthcare providers to detect disease early, leading to prompt treatment, increased survival rates, and better patient outcomes (Aggarwal et al., 2022). After passing the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover most health screens and preventive services. Examples of diseases that may be detected through health screenings include diabetes, hypertension, cancers, depression, hepatitis, HIV, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, and many more.
In this week’s case study, the patient is a 65-year-old woman with no medical or surgical history and no presenting symptoms. She is adopted and is unsure about her family history. Also, since she has been healthy, she admits to not seeing a healthcare provider in ten years. Due to the patient’s age, gender, and unknown family history, she would benefit from several screening tests. To begin, at routine exams, she should be screened for alcohol misuse, depression, tobacco use, hypertension, vision loss, hearing loss, and, if at risk, sexually transmitted infections. At every routine exam, she should also be counseled on diet, exercise, immunizations, and fall prevention. Immunizations recommended for older adults include influenza, shingles, and pneumococcal. Educating older women about eating a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise is essential since heart disease is women’s leading cause of death (Adedinsewo et al., 2022).
Although the patient’s history and physical exam were unremarkable, she has not seen a medical provider in ten years. She should be screened for diabetes, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, elevated cholesterol, and osteoporosis. After the initial screening tests, she can follow the screening guidelines for women over 65 if all screenings are negative. For example, she can be screened for diabetes every three years, breast cancer every 1-2 years, elevated cholesterol every five years, and osteoporosis every two years (University of Rochester Medical Center, 2024). Cervical cancer screening is typically stopped after the age of 65 in women who have had negative results. However, since this patient has not been screened for cervical cancer in several years, she should continue to be screened every three years if she gets a pap test alone or every five years if an HPV/pap cotest is done. Colorectal screening is recommended up until the age of 75. The screening frequency will vary depending on the screening test the patient selects. Screening options for colorectal cancer include a colonoscopy every ten years, sigmoidoscopy every five years, CT colonography every five years, or an annual fecal occult blood test (University of Rochester Medical Center, 2024). If the patient has abnormal results during a screening test or develops risk factors, screening recommendations will vary on an individual patient basis.