scholarly journals PSA Testing: Are Patients Aware of What Lies Ahead?

2006 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Lamplugh ◽  
Paul Gilmore ◽  
Timothy Quinlan ◽  
Philip Cornford

INTRODUCTION Screening for prostate cancer with serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) remains a controversial topic. The UK NHS Executive has issued extensive guidance stressing the importance of adequate counselling prior to performing this test. This study aims to assess men's knowledge of the PSA test at the time of their referral and their attitude towards screening. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 219 men referred to urology via the ‘fast track’ prostate cancer service were recruited into the study. Of these, 191 were referred from primary care and 28 from secondary care. All men completed a questionnaire regarding their knowledge and expectation of the test. RESULTS The response rate for completed questionnaires was 100%. Overall, 91 (41.5%) men were aware that their PSA had been performed prior to referral and only 79 (36%) men understood why the test was being done. Patients referred from secondary care appeared to be better informed. Despite these figures, 175 (80%) men said they would recommend PSA testing to a friend or colleague, and 196 (89%) men said the test should be broadly publicised. CONCLUSIONS Nearly two-thirds of the men referred to urology with an elevated PSA were unaware that they had even had their PSA done. Information about the limitations of PSA testing and the consequence of a positive test result had been deficient. Informed counselling for the PSA test should form part of the consultation of any physician intending to undertake this test whether for lower urinary tract symptoms or for prostate cancer screening.

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 317
Author(s):  
Christopher Allard ◽  
Paul Yip ◽  
Ivan Blasutig ◽  
Karen Hersey ◽  
Neil Fleshner

Purpose: The percent free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) may complementtotal PSA for prostate cancer screening, but is of no benefitfor monitoring patients with previous prostate cancer diagnoses. Atthe Princess Margaret Hospital, a tertiary cancer centre in Toronto,Ontario, Canada, PSA values in the range 4 to 10 ng/mL promptreflexive measurements of free PSA. We hypothesize that reflexivefree PSA testing at tertiary cancer centres generates unnecessarycosts as the test is often conducted on patients with previous diagnosesof prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: We reviewed all reflexive free PSA measurementsconducted on a random sample of 250 men in a 10-yearperiod at our institution. We determined the clinical indicationsfor the PSA tests which triggered reflexive free PSA measurementsto estimate the proportion of free PSA tests that are not clinicallyindicated.Results: We reviewed the 1099 reflexive free PSA measurementsfor the 250 subjects. Of these tests, 562 (51%) were triggered byPSA tests ordered for screening/early detection, and 537 (49%)for monitoring.Conclusions: Of all reflexive free PSA tests, 49% were unnecessary.We conducted 3022 free PSA tests, at a cost of $5.84 pertest (Can$); the tests were performed in 2009 at this institution fora total cost of $17 648.48, about 49% of which ($8647.76) likelyrepresents unnecessary annual costs. We suggest a trial of userselectableorder sets allowing physicians to choose whether toinclude reflexive free PSA measurements on a case-by-case basis.This policy might improve the cost-effectiveness of the PSA test attertiary cancer centres.Objectif : Le pourcentage d’antigène prostatique spécifique (APS)libre peut compléter la mesure de l’APS total dans le dépistagedu cancer de la prostate, mais il n’est d’aucune utilité pour lasurveillance de patients ayant déjà reçu un diagnostic de cancerde la prostate. À l’hôpital Princess Margaret, un centre de soinsoncologiques tertiaires de Toronto, en Ontario (Canada), un tauxd’APS se situant entre 4 et 10 ng/mL entraîne systématiquementune évaluation des taux d’APS libre. Nous avançons l’hypothèseque la mesure de l’APS libre dans les centres de soins oncologiquestertiaires entraîne des dépenses inutiles car ce test est souventmené chez des patients ayant déjà reçu un diagnostic de cancerde la prostate.Matériel et méthodes : Nous avons examiné tous les cas de mesurede l’APS libre effectuée dans un échantillon aléatoire de 250 hommessur une période de 10 ans à notre établissement. Nous avonsvérifié les indications cliniques liées aux mesures de l’APS ayantentraîné une mesure de l’APS libre afin d’évaluer la proportionde ces mesures de l’APS libre qui n’étaient pas justifiées sur leplan clinique.Résultats : Chez les 250 sujets, 1099 mesures de l’APS libre ont étéeffectuées. Sur ces tests, 562 (51 %) ont fait suite à des mesuresde l’APS prescrites à des fins de dépistage/diagnostic précoce, et537 (49 %) à des fins de surveillance.Conclusions : De toutes les mesures de l’APS libre, 49 % n’étaientpas nécessaires; 3022 tests de mesure de l’APS libre, au coût de5,84 $ par test, ont été effectués en 2009 à notre établissement,pour un coût total de 17 648,48 $, dont environ 49 % – pour unmontant de 8647,76 $ – représente selon toute apparence desdépenses inutiles. Nous suggérons d’établir une règle basée sur lejugement clinique et permettant aux médecins de choisir d’inclureou non la mesure de l’APS libre au cas par cas. Une telle politiquepourrait améliorer la rentabilité des mesures de l’APS dans lescentres de soins oncologiques tertiaires.


BMC Urology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shingo Ashida ◽  
Ichiro Yamasaki ◽  
Chiaki Kawada ◽  
Hideo Fukuhara ◽  
Satoshi Fukata ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To enhance the convenience and reduce the cost of prostate cancer (PC) screening, a one-step prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was evaluated in a large population. The PSA SPOT test kit enables rapid detection of human PSA in serum or plasma at or above a cutoff level of 4 ng/mL to aid in the diagnosis of PC. Methods PC screening using the PSA SPOT test was offered to male participants in educational public lectures that we conducted in various cities. Test results were reported to participants at the end of the lectures. Blood samples from 1429 men were evaluated. Two independent observers interpreted the tests at 15 and 30 min. The remaining serum samples were subsequently tested using a conventional quantitative assay. Results The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the test were 79.9, 93.0, 65.4, 96.6, and 91.2%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the test changed with variations in the reading time. Quantitative assessment of the intensity of the band was correlated with the PSA value. Conclusions PSA testing using this kit can be easily performed. The low cost and speed of the test make it a useful and convenient tool for primary PC screening.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumitra S. Bhuyan ◽  
Aastha Chandak ◽  
Niodita Gupta ◽  
Sudhir Isharwal ◽  
Chad LaGrange ◽  
...  

The American Urological Association, American Cancer Society, and American College of Physicians recommend that patients and providers make a shared decision with respect to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer (PCa). The goal of this study is to determine the extent of patient–provider communication for PSA testing and treatment of PCa and to examine the patient specific factors associated with this communication. Using recent data from the Health Information National Trends Survey, this study examined the association of patient characteristics with four domains of patient–provider communication regarding PSA test and PCa treatment: (1) expert opinion of PSA test, (2) accuracy of PSA test, (3) side effects of PCa treatment, and (4) treatment need of PCa. The current results suggested low level of communication for PSA testing and treatment of PCa across four domains. Less than 10% of the respondents report having communication about all four domains. Patient characteristics like recent medical check-up, regular healthcare provider, global health status, age group, marital status, race, annual household income, and already having undergone a PSA test are associated with patient–provider communication. There are few discussions about PSA testing and PCa treatment options between healthcare providers and their patients, which limits the shared decision-making process for PCa screening and treatment as recommended by the current best practice guidelines. This study helps identify implications for changes in physician practice to adhere with the PSA screening guidelines.


AAOHN Journal ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 379-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Snyder ◽  
Peggy N. Schrammel ◽  
Claudia B. Griffiths ◽  
Robert I. Griffiths

Recognition of the mortality and morbidity associated with prostate cancer has resulted in employer based screening programs. This retrospective cohort study identified the employer costs of prostate cancer screening and referrals due to abnormal test results. The subjects were 385 men enrolled in a workplace screening program at a single employer between 1993 and 1995. Screening consisted of digital rectal examination (DRE) annually for enrolled employees aged 40 years and older, plus annual prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing for those 50 and older, and those 40 and older and considered at high risk. Data related to the health care and lost productivity costs of screening and referrals for abnormal test results were collected and analyzed. The total cost of screening was $44,355, or approximately $56 per screening encounter (788 DREs; 437 PSAs). Abnormal screening tests resulted in 52 referrals. Upon further evaluation, 42% were found to have an enlargement, 29% a node, and 12% benign prostatic hyperplasia. Only one malignancy was found. The total cost of additional referrals was $31,815, or 42% of the cost of screening plus referrals. As the cost per screening encounter was low, prostate cancer screening in the workplace is an efficient alternative.


2000 ◽  
pp. 37-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
A F Nash ◽  
I Melezinek

The introduction of prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing has revolutionised the early detection, management and follow-up of patients with prostate cancer and it is considered to be one of the best biomedical markers currently available in the field of oncology. Its use with annual digital rectal examination in prostate cancer screening programmes has led to a marked change in the distribution of stage at presentation towards earlier disease and led to a significant increase in the detection of potentially curable disease. In order to improve the specificity of PSA testing and thereby reduce the number of unnecessary prostatic biopsies, a number of refinements of PSA evaluation have been proposed. These include free to total PSA ratio, PSA density, PSA density, PSA density of the transition zone, PSA velocity and age-specific PSA reference ranges. The utility of these approaches is considered in this review. The role of PSA monitoring in the detection of recurrence following radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy is discussed, as well as its role in monitoring patients treated with endocrine therapy is discussed, as well as its role in monitoring patients treated with endocrine therapy in terms of correlating PSA response with outcome, in detecting disease progression and in guiding the use of subsequent therapies. Large continuing multicentre screening and outcome studies will provide important information enabling greater refinement of the use of this important diagnostic and monitoring tool in the future detection and management of prostate cancer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 1474-1487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Filella ◽  
María Dolores Albaladejo ◽  
Juan Antonio Allué ◽  
Miguel Angel Castaño ◽  
Daniel Morell-Garcia ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) remains as the most used biomarker in the detection of early prostate cancer (PCa). Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are produced to facilitate incorporation of evidence into clinical practice. This is particularly useful when PCa screening remains controversial and guidelines diverge among different medical institutions, although opportunistic screening is not recommended. Methods We performed a systematic review of guidelines about PCa screening using PSA. Guidelines published since 2008 were included in this study. The most updated version of these CPGs was used for the evaluation. Results Twenty-two guidelines were selected for review. In 59% of these guidelines, recommendations were graded according to level of evidence (n = 13), but only 18% of the guidelines provided clear algorithms (n = 4). Each CPG was assessed using a checklist of laboratory issues, including pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical factors. We found that laboratory medicine specialists participate in 9% of the guidelines reviewed (n = 2) and laboratory issues were frequently omitted. We remarked that information concerning the consequences of World Health Organization (WHO) standard in PSA testing was considered by only two of 22 CPGs evaluated in this study. Conclusions We concluded that the quality of PCa early detection guidelines could be improved properly considering the laboratory issues in their development.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Serfa Faja ◽  
Amir Shoshi

The PSA test is used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. A PSA test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced in the prostate, a small gland that sits below a man's bladder. PSA is mostly found in semen, which also is produced in the prostate. Small amounts of PSA ordinarily circulate in the blood. The PSA test can detect high levels of PSA that may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. However, many other conditions, such as an enlarged or inflamed prostate, can also increase PSA levels. We use ImmunoAssay for Quantitative Measurement of PSA in Human Blood / Serum / Plasma with i-CHROMA TM Reader System with high sensitivity and specifity. We have analysed 120 patients and only 2 of them had very high value of PSA so we can determine for a prostate cancer. Additional factors increase the accuracy of PSA testing and it is not sufficient only the PSA to determine a prostate cancer so we need a rectal examination and transrectal ultrasound.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. David Crawford ◽  
Robert Grubb ◽  
Amanda Black ◽  
Gerald L. Andriole ◽  
Ming-Hui Chen ◽  
...  

Purpose Estimates of prostate cancer–specific mortality (PCSM) were similar for men randomly assigned to intervention compared with usual care on the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian PC screening study. However, results analyzed by comorbidity strata remain unknown. Patients and Methods Between 1993 and 2001, of 76,693 men who were randomly assigned to usual care or intervention at 10 US centers, 73,378 (96%) completed a questionnaire that inquired about comorbidity and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing before random assignment. Fine and Gray's multivariable analysis was performed to assess whether the randomized screening arm was associated with the risk of PCSM in men with no or minimal versus at least one significant comorbidity, adjusting for age and prerandomization PSA testing. Results After 10 years of follow-up, 9,565 deaths occurred, 164 from PC. A significant decrease in the risk of PCSM (22 v 38 deaths; adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.95; P = .03) was observed in men with no or minimal comorbidity randomly assigned to intervention versus usual care, and the additional number needed to treat to prevent one PC death at 10 years was five. Among men with at least one significant comorbidity, those randomly assigned to intervention versus usual care did not have a decreased risk of PCSM (62 v 42 deaths; AHR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.96 to 2.11; P = .08). Conclusion Selective use of PSA screening for men in good health appears to reduce the risk of PCSM with minimal overtreatment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chanita Hughes Halbert ◽  
Sebastiano Gattoni-Celli ◽  
Stephen Savage ◽  
Sandip M. Prasad ◽  
Rick Kittles ◽  
...  

Since prostate cancer continues to disproportionately affect African American men in terms of incidence, morbidity, and mortality, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening plays an important role in early detection, especially when men engage in informed decision making to accept or decline this test. The authors evaluated utilization of PSA testing among African American men based on factors that are important components of making informed decisions. Utilization of PSA testing was evaluated based on whether men had ever had PSA testing and PSA testing during the past year in a community-based sample of African American men ages 50 to 75 ( n = 132). Overall, 64% of men ( n = 85) reported that they had ever had a PSA test; the mean ( SD) age for first use of PSA testing was 47.7 ( SD = 7.4). The likelihood of ever having a PSA test increased significantly with physician communication (odds ratio [OR] = 14.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.20, 48.10; p = .0001) and with having an annual household income that was greater than $20,000 (OR = 9.80; 95% CI = 3.15, 30.51; p = .0001). The odds of ever having a PSA test were also decreased with each unit increase in future temporal orientation (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.47, 0.93; p = .02). Of the men who had ever had PSA testing, 57% were screened during the past year. Only health insurance status had a significant independent association with having annual PSA testing (OR = 5.10; 95% CI = 1.67, 15.60; p = .004). Different factors were associated significantly with ever having PSA testing and annual testing among African American men. African American men may not be making an informed decision about prostate cancer screening.


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