Clinical practice and new technology: prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
In response to a marked increase in the use of an available test, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound (GHC) evaluated the use of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) as a screening test for prostate cancer. A project team reviewed the literature and determined that PSA did not meet GHC's criteria for screening. An implementation team then developed a comprehensive program to educate staff, facilitate practice change, measure outcomes and provide continuing feedback to physicians. These efforts are described and preliminary reports reported.
Stuart
M E
ME
Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Seattle, WA 98112.
Handley
M A
MA
Thompson
R S
RS
Conger
M
M
Timlin
D
D
D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005246:Feedback; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D014861:Washington