81 Background: Active surveillance has gained widespread acceptance as a safe approach for patients with low risk prostate cancer. Despite presenting several advantages for both patients and the health care system, active surveillance is not adopted by all eligible patients. In this study, we evaluated the factors that influence physicians to recommend active surveillance and the barriers that impact adherence to this approach. Methods: We conducted five focus groups with a total of 48 health care providers (HCP) including family physicians, urologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, fellows, and residents/medical students. These participants were all providing care for men with low risk prostate cancer and had engaged in conversations with men and their families about active surveillance. The experience of these HCP from academic hospitals in four Canadian provinces was captured. A content and theme analysis was performed on the verbatim transcripts to understand HCP decisions in proposing active surveillance and reveal the facilitators that affect the adherence to this approach. Results: Participants agreed that active surveillance is a suitable approach for low risk prostate cancer patients, but expressed concerns on the rapidly evolving and non-standardized guidelines for patient follow-up. They raised the need for additional tools to appropriately identify the patients best suited for active surveillance. Collaborations between urologists, radiation-oncologists, and medical oncologists were favoured, however, the role of general practitioners remained controversial once patients were referred to a specialist. Conclusions: Integration of more reliable tools and/or markers, and more specific guidelines for patient follow-up would help both patients and physicians in the decision-making for active surveillance.
MP48-17 DO PROGRESSION RATES ON FOLLOW UP BIOPSY OVER TIME DIFFER BETWEEN MEN WITH VERY LOW RISK AND LOW RISK PROSTATE CANCER ON ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE?
