Figure 1. Screening for Ovarian Cancer Analytic Framework and Key Questions (Text Description)

The diagram illustrates the analytic framework and key questions. It indicates the target population, the interventions, and the health outcome measures examined. The diagram begins on the left with "asymptomatic women" and ends on the right with "reduced premature death and disability." Three arrows represent The 3 key questions (KQ).

Arrow 1 represents KQ 1—"Does screening for ovarian cancer among asymptomatic women result in early detection and, with effective treatment, reduced premature death and disability?" The arrow starts with "asymptomatic women," proceeds through "screening," and becomes 2 arrows. One goes to "early detection and effective treatment for ovarian cancer" and then, represented by a dotted line, to "reduced premature death and disability." The other goes directly to "reduced premature death and disability."

Arrow 2 represents KQ 2—"How well do screening tests or procedures identify women with ovarian cancer?" It proceeds from "asymptomatic women" to "screening," then splits 3 ways. One arrow goes to "negative tests(s)" and stops. Another goes to "positive test(s)." There it becomes a dotted line and continues to "interventions" then to "early detection and effective treatment for ovarian cancer" then to "reduced premature death and disability." An arrow along this route also branches from "interventions" to "adverse effects" and stops.

The third split from Arrow 2 becomes Arrow 3 or KQ 3—"What are the harms of screening?" It goes directly from "screening" to "adverse effects" and stops. (This "adverse effects" is placed separately from the "adverse effects" that springs from "interventions.")

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