Impact of altering the invitation package on screening participation among never-screeners in the Flemish population-based cancer screening programs.

Background: The total coverage of both the Flemish breast cancer and cervical screening program remain suboptimal, with approximately 63% for both. Of all the women invited to the breast cancer screening program, 14.1% never underwent any type of breast cancer screening (any type of mammogram, ultrasound, or clinical breast examination).

Relationship between health-related determinants and adherence to breast and colorectal cancer screening: a population-based study in Flanders, Belgium.

Background: Despite the recognized benefits of structured cancer screening, tests outside organized screening programs are common. Comprehensive reports on outside program screening in Europe are lacking, but the Flemish breast cancer (BC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs monitor data on non-organized tests prescribed by GPs and specialists.

Methods: Using data at aggregated level, logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between health care utilization and screening coverage in 308 Flemish municipalities during 2015-18.

Evaluation of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in predicting mortality in older patients with COVID-19 in the AgeBru cohort.

Objective: To determine whether the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) on hospital admission was associated to an increased 14-day and 12-month mortality-risk in older inpatients with COVID-19.

Methods: Cohort study of consecutive inpatients admitted with COVID-19 in a university hospital (20/03/2020-11/05/2021).

Inclusion Criteria: age over 65 years and positive polymerase chain reaction test.

The effect of a pre-scheduled appointment on attendance in a population-based mammography screening programme.

Background: Pre-scheduled appointments can increase attendance in breast cancer screening programmes compared to 'open invitations' but relatively few randomized controlled trials exist. We investigated the effect of a pre-scheduled appointment on uptake in the Flemish population-based mammography screening programme.

Methods: Between September and December 2022, a total of 4798 women were randomly assigned to receive either a pre-scheduled appointment or open invitation.

Comparative effectiveness of heterologous third dose vaccine schedules against severe covid-19 during omicron predominance in Nordic countries: population based cohort analyses.

Objective: To investigate the comparative vaccine effectiveness of heterologous booster schedules (ie, three vaccine doses) compared with primary schedules (two vaccine doses) and with homologous mRNA vaccine booster schedules (three vaccine doses) during a period of omicron predominance.

Design: Population based cohort analyses.

Setting: Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, 27 December 2020 to 31 December 2022.

Knowledge, perception and acceptance of generic drugs in the general Lebanese population: A cross-sectional survey among adults.

Background: Many governments encouraged generic use to enhance health equality and minimise health expenditure. The lack of knowledge and acceptance of generic medicines are the main barriers to their use.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess population knowledge and perception towards generic drugs, identify their primary sources of information and examine which variables are independently related to their acceptance.

The effect of the Flemish breast cancer screening program on breast cancer-specific mortality: A case-referent study.

Background: Breast cancer screening programs were introduced in many countries worldwide following randomized controlled trials in the 1980s showing a reduction in breast cancer-specific mortality. However, their effectiveness remains debated and estimates vary. A breast cancer screening program was introduced in 2001 in Flanders, Belgium where high levels of opportunistic screening practices are observed.

Effectiveness of Organized Mammography Screening for Different Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes.

Background: Screening program effectiveness is generally evaluated for breast cancer (BC) as one disease and without considering the regularity of participation, while this might have an impact on detection rate.

Objectives: To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of a mammography screening program for the major molecular subtypes of invasive BC.

Methods: All women who participated in the screening program and were diagnosed with screen-detected or interval BC in Flanders were included in the study (2008-2018).

Evaluation of Pharmacists' Preferences and Barriers to Access Continuing Education: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lebanon.

The implementation of continuing education programs for pharmacists in Lebanon is emerging and needs to be further developed and strengthened to fill the gaps between knowledge acquisition and its application in the workplace. This study examined the perceptions of pharmacist preferences for and barriers to access programs. A crosssectional descriptive study was undertaken with a convenience sample of 142 pharmacists who were surveyed in their workplace.

Overdiagnosis of invasive breast cancer in population-based breast cancer screening: A short- and long-term perspective.

Background: Overdiagnosis of invasive breast cancer (BC) is a contentious issue.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to estimate the overdiagnosis rate of invasive BC in an organised BC screening program and to evaluate the impact of age and follow-up time.

Methods: The micro-simulation model SiMRiSc was calibrated and validated for BC screening in Flanders, where women are screened biennially from age 50 to 69.

Flemish population-based cancer screening programs: impact of COVID-19 related shutdown on short-term key performance indicators.

Background: Many breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening programs were disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to estimate the short-term impact of the temporary shutdown (from March until May- June) of the cancer screening programs invitations in Flanders (Belgium) by looking at invitation coverage, percentage of people screened after invitation and the screening interval.

Methods: Yearly invitation coverage was calculated as the number of people who received an invitation, as a proportion of the people who should have received an invitation that year.

Knowledge and Beliefs of Cancer Risk Factors and Early Cancer Symptoms in Lebanon: A Cross-sectional Survey Among Adults in the Community.

Background: Lebanon has an increasing cancer burden. Sufficient knowledge of cancer risk factors and early cancer symptoms can help lower cancer burden by facilitating primary prevention and early diagnosis. This study (i) assessed Lebanese adults' knowledge and beliefs of cancer risk factors and early cancer symptoms, (ii) analyzed whether knowledge was correlated with personal behavior, and (iii) assessed the presence of barriers that keep knowledge from turning into healthcare seeking behavior.

Lung cancer screening: intention to participate and acceptability among Belgian smokers.

Objective: Next to the obvious benefits of tobacco-use cessation, lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans has been proposed as a means to lower lung cancer burden. Achieving an impact of any cancer screening program on cancer-specific mortality largely depends on the uptake. The aim of this study was to estimate the acceptability and intention to participate in a lung cancer screening program among Belgian current or former smokers.

The requirements of a specialist breast centre.

This article is an update of the requirements of a specialist breast centre, produced by EUSOMA and endorsed by ECCO as part of Essential Requirements for Quality Cancer Care (ERQCC) programme, and ESMO. To meet aspirations for comprehensive cancer control, healthcare organisations must consider the requirements in this article, paying particular attention to multidisciplinarity and patient-centred pathways from diagnosis, to treatment, to survivorship.

Breast cancer risk is increased in the years following false-positive breast cancer screening.

A small number of studies have investigated breast cancer (BC) risk among women with a history of false-positive recall (FPR) in BC screening, but none of them has used time-to-event analysis while at the same time quantifying the effect of false-negative diagnostic assessment (FNDA). FNDA occurs when screening detects BC, but this BC is missed on diagnostic assessment (DA). As a result of FNDA, screenings that detected cancer are incorrectly classified as FPR.