Background: In Austria, the "Mutter-Kind-Pass” (the "mother-child pass") is a screening instrument for children up to the age of five years. There are currently no (universal) routine screenings for older children and adolescents. Against this background, the present two-part report deals with (international) screening services and guideline recommendations for children between six and 14 years old.

Methods: Part I of the report is based on an (Internet) hand search and expert contacts and focuses on screening services for children from six to 14 years of age in selected countries. For part II, the search was conducted in guideline databases and on websites of numerous institutions. Evidence-based guidelines were selected according to predefined inclusion criteria.

Results: In the country overview in part I, the screening services in nine countries were presented. In this context, four core screening parameters (with partly different foci) could be identified. These are screenings of body weight and height, hearing and vision disorders, dental diseases and mental disorders. In addition, numerous health-related and social counselling services are available to children, adolescents and parents. The services are provided (depending on the country) at school and/or by resident medical practitioners. The main (screening) actors (also depending on country specifications) are doctors and nurses (e.g. school/public health nurses).
For the guideline synopsis in part II, a total of 50 evidence-based guidelines from 16 different institutions were included. In total, guideline recommendations for 24 diseases or risk factors were extracted and summarised in individual subchapters. Recommendations from one to a maximum of seven guidelines were identified for the respective subject areas. Most of the recommendations available concern screenings for overweight and dental diseases – and most of the institutions are also largely in favour of these screenings. Further guidelines deal, for example, with infectious diseases, mental disorders, topics of health and risk behaviour. In addition, recommendations for counselling (e.g. on nutrition, physical exercise, substance use) were also extracted.

Conclusions: The results of the present report ("assessment") can be used as a basis for a discussion on the development of a new screening/prevention programme for children between six and 14 years in Austria. The overview of countries and guidelines provides an international and evidence-based view. In addition, however, an evaluation of the health and social benefits of such (new) screening services is also necessary. Furthermore, the international results must be evaluated in an Austrian context ("appraisal").