A Kovács

Publications (2)6.9 Total impact

• Article: Cervical screening in Hungary: why does the "English model" work but the "Hungarian model" does not?

  A Kovács, L Döbrossy, A Budai, I Boncz, A Cornides
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: A comparison has been made between the English practice and the "Hungarian model" of cervical screening. In England, until 1986, extensive opportunistic screening was the practice, but--as it had no effect on cervical cancer mortality--afterwards, the screening policy was changed to be strictly in line with international recommendations. On the other hand, in Hungary, the "old practice" has been petrified: gynaecologists are the "gatekeepers", a "gynaecological examination completed with smear-taking for cytology" makes up the screening strategy. Although in the frame of a National Public Health Programme all the prerequisites for nationwide organised screening have been provided, and an up-to-date screening strategy declared, 20-times as many smears are taken and analysed outside as inside the programme, and the efforts have had no impact on cervical cancer mortality. This is because "old habits die hard". There is an urgent need to reconsider the screening strategy, and to reorganise the cervical screening practice in Hungary.
  European journal of gynaecological oncology 02/2008; 29(1):5-9. · 0.47 Impact Factor
• Article: The organisation and results of first screening round of the Hungarian nationwide organised breast cancer screening programme.

  I Boncz, A Sebestyén, L Döbrossy, Z Péntek, A Budai, A Kovács, C Dózsa, I Ember
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to give an overview of organisational issues of the Hungarian nationwide organised breast cancer screening programme and to provide the results of the first screening round of the programme for the years 2002-2003. Data were derived from the financial database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration covering the period 2000-2003. Women who underwent mammography screening were included into the study. Uptake of the organised screening programme in 2002-2003 was 45.09%, while the recall rate was 7.23%. Malignant cases represented 65.38% of total surgeries and 0.36% of total number of screened women yielding a cancer detection rate 3.6 per 1000 screened women. Malignant cases of 10.78% were identified as ductal carcinoma in situ, while 89.22% was invasive cancer. Benign to malignant ratio was 0.54 : 1. There is therefore an urgent need to closely monitor performance and to review programme policies and procedures with the aim of increasing both the participation rate and the proportion of women eligible to attend screening.
  Annals of Oncology 05/2007; 18(4):795-9. · 6.43 Impact Factor