Table 2 Clinical topics and number of panelists selecting each topic at each survey round (*: indicates the round at which the topic was selected)

· Screening for BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations to evaluate the risk of breast and ovarian cancer

5

7*

· Newborn screening for sickle cell anemiaa

0

-

· Newborn screening for MCAD (medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase) deficiency

0

-

· Hereditary colorectal cancer screening in individuals with high risks of colorectal and endometrial cancers

1

4*

· Screening for hereditary hemochromatosis in patients with abnormal ferritin level or abnormal transferrin saturation or in patients with family members with hemochromatosis

0

-

· Prenatal screening for the detection of Down’s syndrome, Trisomy 18, and open neural tube defects

5

7*

· Genotype testing for patients initiating warfarin treatment

1

3

· Screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in individuals with clinical features or a family history of HCM

0

-

· Testing for CDKN2A and CDK4 gene mutations to evaluate the risk of melanoma and the predisposition for pancreatic cancer

1

0

· Genetic testing for factor V Leiden to identify those at an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE).

0

-

Additional topics proposed by the panelists at first round

· Screening for hereditary prostate cancer

-

-

· Screening for MEN predisposing mutations

-

0

b) Other topics

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

· Colorectal cancer screening with faecal occult blood test

7*

-

-

· Prostate cancer screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test

7*

-

-

· Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening with abdominal ultrasound

1

-

-

· Treatment of mild to moderate depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or St. John’s wort

2

-

-

· Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with cholinesterase inhibitors

5

4

5*

· Antibiotic treatment for patients with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

4

4

4

· Intensive glycemic control in type 2 diabetes

4

4

5*

· Prevention of strokes with antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation

3

-

-

· Prevention of cardiovascular events with antihypertensive drug in patients over 60 years old presenting with essential hypertension

4

2

-

· Prevention of vascular diseases with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)

6

6

7*

· Prevention of osteoporotic fractures with bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate, etidronate) in postmenopausal women

6

4

7*

· Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with statins in persons with cardiovascular risk factors

5

4

7*

· Prevention of cervical cancer with the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV)

3

-

-

Additional topics proposed by the panelists at first round

· Antibiotics versus nasal steroids for the treatment of acute sinusitis in adults

-

1

-

· Early palliative care for patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer

-

1

-

· Omega-3 for mild to moderate depression

-

1

-

· Delayed versus immediate antibiotic prescriptions for acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women

-

0

-

· Prevention of prostate cancer with 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors (finasteride and dutasteride)

-

2

-

· Breast cancer screening for women age 40 to 50 with no risk factors

-

1

-

· Prevention of breast cancer with tamoxifen

-

2

-