United States Preventive Service Taskforce (USPSTF)
Following the guidelines of the United States Preventive Service Taskforce (USPSTF), discuss and describe the screening recommendations for the following:
Cervical cancer
Breast cancer
Osteoporosis
Colorectal cancer
Lung cancer
Ovarian cancer
Intimate partner violence (IPV).
Submission Instructions:
The paper is to be clear and concise and students will lose points for improper grammar, punctuation and misspelling.
The paper is to be no shorter than 3-4 pages in length, excluding the title and references page.
Your paper should be formatted per APA.
Incorporate current practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment and a minimum of 4 current (published within the last five years) scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions) within your work. Journal articles and books should be referenced according to APA style (the library has a copy of the APA Manual).
Essay/Paper Rubric
Criteria Ratings
Points
Identification of Main Issues/Problems
Distinguished – 4 points
Identify and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the issues/problems.
Excellent – 3 points
Identifies and demonstrate an accomplished understanding of most of issues/problems.
Fair – 2 points
Identifies and demonstrate an acceptable understanding of most of issues/problems.
Poor – 1 point
Identifies and demonstrate an unacceptable understanding of most of issues/problems.
No Submission – 0 points
4 points
Analysis and Evaluation of Issues/Problems
Distinguished – 4 points
Presents an insightful, thorough analysis and evaluation of issues/problems.
Excellent – 3 points
Presents a thorough analysis and evaluation of most of the issues/problems.
Fair – 2 points
Presents a superficial or incomplete analysis and evaluation of issues/problems.
Poor – 1 point
Presents unacceptable analysis and evaluation of issues/problems.
No Submission – 0 points
4 points
Demonstrates a Conceptual Understanding
Distinguished – 4 points
Provides a thorough, competent and interpretive responses to all issues/problems, and shows a high level of conceptual understanding.
Excellent – 3 points
Provides a competent and interpretive responses to all issues/problems, and shows a moderate level of conceptual understanding.
Fair – 2 points
Provides a competent responses to all issues/problems, but lacks interpretation and a moderate level of conceptual understanding.
Poor – 1 point
Provides an unacceptable response to all issues/problems, and lacks interpretation and a moderate level of conceptual understanding.
No Submission – 0 points
4 points
Use of Citations to Course Readings and Additional Research/Literature
Distinguished – 4 points
Effectively uses the literature and other resources to inform their work. Exceptional use of citations and extended referencing.
Excellent – 3 points
Effectively uses the literature and other resources to inform their work. Moderate use of citations and extended referencing.
Fair – 2 points
Ineffectively uses the literature and other resources to inform their work. Moderate use of citations and extended referencing.
Poor – 1 point
Ineffectively uses the literature and other resources to inform their work. Unacceptable use of citations and extended referencing.
No Submission – 0 points
4 points
Writing Mechanics and APA Formatting Guidelines
Distinguished – 4 points
Demonstrate a high level of clarity, precision, and attention to detail. APA style is correct and writing is free of grammar and spelling errors.
Excellent – 3 points
Demonstrate a high level of clarity. APA style and writing mechanics need more precision and attention to detail.
Fair – 2 points
Demonstrate a moderate level of clarity. APA style and writing mechanics need more precision and attention to detail.
Poor – 1 point
Demonstrates issues in writing and communicating clearly. APA style and writing mechanics need serious attention.
No Submission – 0 points
4 points
Total Points
20
United States Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF) Screening Recommendations
Cervical Cancer The USPSTF recommends screening for cervical cancer in women aged 21 to 65 years with cytology (Pap smear) every three years or, for women aged 30 to 65 years who want to lengthen the screening interval, screening with a combination of cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing every five years. Screening should begin at age 21, regardless of sexual history. Women younger than 21 and older than 65, who have had adequate prior screening and are not at high risk, do not need screening.
Breast Cancer The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years. Women aged 40 to 49 years should make an individual decision to start biennial screening based on their values regarding the potential benefits and harms. Screening before age 50 should be based on patient context and individual risk factors.
Osteoporosis The USPSTF recommends screening for osteoporosis with bone measurement testing to prevent osteoporotic fractures in women aged 65 years and older. For postmenopausal women younger than 65 years, screening should be considered for those at increased risk of osteoporosis, as determined by a formal clinical risk assessment tool.
Colorectal Cancer The USPSTF recommends screening for colorectal cancer starting at age 45 years and continuing until age 75 years. Several screening strategies are available, including high-sensitivity fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. The choice of screening test should consider the patient’s preferences, medical history, and the likelihood of the patient to follow through with the test and necessary follow-up.
Lung Cancer The USPSTF recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Screening should be discontinued once a person has not smoked for 15 years or develops a health problem that substantially limits life expectancy or the ability or willingness to have curative lung surgery.
Ovarian Cancer The USPSTF recommends against screening for ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women. This recommendation applies to women who are not known to have a high-risk hereditary cancer syndrome, such as those with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) The USPSTF recommends that clinicians screen for intimate partner violence (IPV) in women of reproductive age and provide or refer women who screen positive to ongoing support services. The evidence indicates that screening and intervention services can reduce IPV and improve outcomes for women.
Submission Instructions: The following paper will provide a clear and concise discussion of the USPSTF screening recommendations for the above conditions. It will be formatted according to APA guidelines and will incorporate current practice guidelines and a minimum of four scholarly journal articles published within the last five years.
Cervical Cancer Screening
The USPSTF recommends cervical cancer screening for women aged 21 to 65 years with cytology (Pap smear) every three years. Women aged 30 to 65 years who prefer a longer screening interval can opt for a combination of cytology and HPV testing every five years. Screening should begin at age 21, irrespective of sexual history, and end at 65, provided there is adequate prior screening and no high-risk factors.
Current Guidelines and Rationale
The recommendations are based on evidence that regular screening significantly reduces cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Cytology detects precancerous lesions, while HPV testing identifies the virus responsible for most cervical cancers, enabling earlier intervention (Fontham et al., 2020). Women under 21 are excluded from screening to avoid the potential harms of over-treatment, as HPV infections and related abnormalities often resolve spontaneously in this age group.
Breast Cancer Screening
The USPSTF recommends biennial mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years. Women aged 40 to 49 years should consider individual risks and benefits before starting biennial screening.
Current Guidelines and Rationale
Biennial mammography for women aged 50 to 74 has been shown to reduce breast cancer mortality with a favorable balance of benefits and harms (Siu, 2016). For women aged 40 to 49, the decision to start screening should be personalized due to the lower incidence and higher false-positive rates in this age group, which can lead to unnecessary anxiety and interventions (Oeffinger et al., 2015).
Osteoporosis Screening
The USPSTF recommends bone measurement testing for osteoporosis in women aged 65 and older and in younger postmenopausal women at increased risk, as determined by a clinical risk assessment tool.
Current Guidelines and Rationale
Screening for osteoporosis is crucial in preventing fractures, which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Bone measurement tests, such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), effectively identify individuals at high risk of fractures, allowing for timely interventions (Qaseem et al., 2017). Screening younger postmenopausal women at increased risk ensures early detection and management.
Colorectal Cancer Screening
The USPSTF recommends screening for colorectal cancer from age 45 to 75 using high-sensitivity FOBT, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy.
Current Guidelines and Rationale
Colorectal cancer screening is essential in reducing incidence and mortality. Starting at age 45 captures a higher risk population, reflecting recent trends in earlier onset of colorectal cancer (US Preventive Services Task Force, 2021). The choice of screening method should align with patient preferences, medical history, and likelihood of adherence to follow-up procedures.
Lung Cancer Screening
The USPSTF recommends annual LDCT screening for adults aged 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
Current Guidelines and Rationale
Annual LDCT screening reduces lung cancer mortality in high-risk individuals by enabling early detection and treatment. Discontinuing screening after 15 years of smoking cessation or when health limitations preclude curative treatment ensures that the benefits of screening outweigh the risks (USPSTF, 2021).
Ovarian Cancer Screening
The USPSTF recommends against screening for ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women without high-risk hereditary cancer syndromes.
Current Guidelines and Rationale
Screening for ovarian cancer in the general population has not demonstrated a reduction in mortality and can lead to significant harms from false positives and subsequent invasive procedures (Henderson et al., 2018). This recommendation emphasizes the need for targeted screening in high-risk groups, such as those with BRCA mutations.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Screening
The USPSTF recommends screening for IPV in women of reproductive age and providing or referring those who screen positive to support services.
Current Guidelines and Rationale
Screening for IPV and linking affected women to supportive services can significantly improve health outcomes and reduce violence recurrence (Nelson et al., 2018). Effective screening involves validated tools and a supportive environment to encourage disclosure and provide necessary interventions.
References
Fontham, E. T. H., Wolf, A. M. D., Church, T. R., Etzioni, R., Flowers, C. R., Herzig, A., … & Smith, R. A. (2020). Cervical cancer screening for individuals at average risk: 2020 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 70(5), 321-346.
Henderson, J. T., Webber, E. M., Sawaya, G. F., & Nelson, H. D. (2018). U.S. Preventive Services Task Force evidence synthesis on screening for ovarian cancer. JAMA, 319(6), 595-606.
Nelson, H. D., Bougatsos, C., & Blazina, I. (2018). Screening women for intimate partner violence: A systematic review to update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 169(8), 538-545.
Oeffinger, K. C., Fontham, E. T. H., Etzioni, R., Herzig, A., Michaelson, J. S., Shih, Y. T., … & Wender, R. (2015). Breast cancer screening for women at average risk: 2015 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. JAMA, 314(15), 1599-1614.
Qaseem, A., Forciea, M. A., McLean, R. M., & Denberg, T. D. (2017). Treatment of low bone density or osteoporosis to prevent fractures in men and women: A clinical practice guideline update from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 166(11), 818-839.
Siu, A. L. (2016). Screening for breast cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Annals of Internal Medicine, 164(4), 279-296.
US Preventive Services Task Force. (2021). Screening for colorectal cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA, 325(19), 1965-1977.
US Preventive Services Task Force. (2021). Screening for lung cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA, 325(10), 962-970.