Self‐reported prevalence of pro, state‐specific antigen testing in South Australia: a community study

Autor: David P Weller, Villis R Marshall, Carole B Pinnock
Rok vydání: 1998
Předmět:
Zdroj: Medical Journal of Australia. 169:25-28
ISSN: 1326-5377
0025-729X
DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1998.tb141473.x
Popis: OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and other characteristics of self-reported blood testing (prostate-specific antigen [PSA]) for prostate cancer in the community. DESIGN Interview-based prevalence study. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING 695 men aged 40 years and over in the Spring 1996 South Australian Health Omnibus survey of a probability sample of 3011 households, weighted to reflect the age and sex distribution of the South Australian population. OUTCOME MEASURES Number of men who had a PSA test in the preceding 12 months; number of first tests; the person initiating and performing the test; knowledge of the next step if test result abnormal; number of men visiting doctor for lower urinary tract symptoms in the preceding 12 months. RESULTS 20.3% of participants reported having a PSA test in the preceding 12 months; 62.1% were first tests. Prevalence of testing was highest in the age group 70-79 years (35.8%). Most tests were initiated by the general practitioner (41.2%) and by patients (35.7%). Of those tested, 45.3% had inadequate knowledge of the next step. Visiting a doctor for urinary symptoms was significantly associated with PSA testing (P < 0.001): 47.7% of men who visited a doctor for urinary symptoms had been tested compared with only 17.4% of those who did not visit the doctor for this problem. Only age and visiting a doctor for urinary symptoms were significant independent predictors of having a PSA test. CONCLUSIONS Investigation of lower urinary tract symptoms contributed substantially to PSA testing, and those tested did not adequately understand the consequences. Our findings suggest a need for a better framework for PSA testing in general practice, including all important elements of decision-making, such as evidence and patient preference, as well as the means to ensure adequate patient counselling before testing.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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