Prostate cancer testing: a snapshot of the attitudes and practice of Australian general practitioners

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Crowe ◽  
Addie C. Wootten ◽  
Nicholas Howard

The role of the General Practitioner (GP) in testing for and managing men with prostate cancer (PCa) is significant. Very few studies have explored the attitudes and practices of Australian GPs in the context of the role of PCa testing. In this study, a 46-item web-based questionnaire was used to assess self-reported PCa testing attitudes and practices of GPs. This questionnaire was circulated to divisions of general practice and Medicare locals for further distribution to their GP members across Australia. GPs from all states and territories participated, and a total of 136 GPs completed the survey. Of the responding GPs, 57% always or usually offered PCa testing to asymptomatic men ≤70 years of age and 60% of GPs always or usually included a digital rectal examination (DRE). Many (80%) of the GPs stated that the current PCa testing guidelines were not clear. PCa testing was offered opportunistically by 56% while 39% offered testing at the patient’s request. The results captured in this study represent a snapshot of GP attitudes and practices from across Australia. The results presented indicate a wide variation in the approaches to PCa testing in general practice across Australia, which in most part appear to be related to the lack of clarity of the current prostate cancer testing guidelines.

2008 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 581-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claartje Gosselaar ◽  
Monique J. Roobol ◽  
Stijn Roemeling ◽  
Fritz H. Schröder

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 838-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Green ◽  
Selena Knight ◽  
Merryn Gott ◽  
Stephen Barclay ◽  
Patrick White

Background: General practitioners have overall responsibility for community care, including towards end of life. Current policy places generalists at the centre of palliative care provision. However, little is known about how patients and carers understand the general practitioner’s role. Aims: To explore patient and carer perspectives of (1) the role of the general practitioner in providing palliative care to adult patients and (2) the facilitators and barriers to the general practitioner’s capacity to fulfil this perceived role. Design: Systematic literature review and narrative synthesis. Data sources: Seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, BNI, CINAHL, Cochrane and HMIC) were searched from inception to May 2017. Two reviewers independently screened papers at title, abstract and full-text stages. Grey literature, guideline, hand searches of five journals and reference list/citation searches of included papers were undertaken. Data were extracted, tabulated and synthesised using narrative, thematic analysis. Results: A total of 25 studies were included: 14 employed qualitative methods, 8 quantitative survey methods and 3 mixed-methods. Five key themes were identified: continuity of care, communication between primary and secondary care, contact and accessibility, communication between general practitioner and patient, and knowledge and competence. Conclusion: Although the terminology and context of general practice vary internationally, themes relating to the perceived role of general practitioners were consistent. General practitioners are considered well placed to provide palliative care due to their breadth of clinical responsibility, ongoing relationships with patients and families, and duty to visit patients at home and coordinate healthcare resources. These factors, valued by service users, should influence future practice and policy development.


2005 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-442
Author(s):  
A. Galuffo ◽  
V. Serretta ◽  
L. Di Gregorio ◽  
F. Scuto ◽  
V. Bertolino ◽  
...  

Subclinical infections of the prostate can increase the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values in patients with normal digital rectal examination. This study aimed to evaluate the role of short-term antimicrobial therapy in reducing the PSA value in patients as candidates for transrectal biopsy. Fifty-eight patients with negative digital rectal examination and PSA values between 4 and 20 ng/mL were included in the study. Antibiotics were administered to all patients for 3 weeks, and the PSA was reassessed 10 days after the end of the treatment. Patients were subsequently submitted to prostate biopsy. A reduction in PSA was detected in 34 patients (59%). Mean percentage reduction was 32%. In only six patients (10%) did the PSA return to normal levels. Prostate biopsy revealed prostate cancer in 26 patients (45%). Prostate cancer was not detected in patients with PSA levels above 4 ng/mL. Prostate biopsy can be avoided only in a small number of patients showing the normalization of PSA levels after short-term antimicrobial therapy. These patients should be strictly monitored with frequent PSA determinations.


2012 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 577-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique J. Roobol ◽  
Heidi A. van Vugt ◽  
Stacy Loeb ◽  
Xiaoye Zhu ◽  
Meelan Bul ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Bülent Altunoluk ◽  
Mustafa Remzi Bahar ◽  
Mustafa Eren ◽  
Remziye Eren ◽  
Harun Çıralık ◽  
...  

1972 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Oeberius Kapteijn ◽  
C. P. Bruins ◽  
H. J. Dokter ◽  
J. M. L. Phaff

The evolution of health care in the Netherlands and the various methods of social insurance are discussed briefly. A description of medical care is followed by a section on the Cross Societies, school health services, industrial medicine, and the role of the state health authorities. In the context of primary medical care, the role of the general practitioner, his freedom to choose his place of work, his preference for rural districts, the reasons for the increasing lack of general practitioners in big cities, and the financial position of Dutch general practitioners are discussed and analyzed. The tasks of the general practitioner are categorized as diagnostic, curative, delegating, and registering and coordinating functions, as well as that of social critic. Methods of practice and cooperation with both medical and nonmedical health personnel are described. Finally, an account on the professional organizations and the Netherlands Institute of General Practice is followed by a review on the recent development of specific vocational training for general practice.


1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome P. Richie ◽  
Louis R. Kavoussi ◽  
George T. Ho ◽  
Martyn A. Vickers ◽  
Michael A. O'Donnell ◽  
...  

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