[PSA analyses in three Norwegian counties in 1999].
BACKGROUND
Analysis of serum PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is used for diagnosis and follow-up of prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to estimate the current use of PSA analysis in the population.


METHODS
A random sample of 1,014 men aged 50-65 living in Oslo, Akershus or Trondheim were included in a survey performed by Statistics Norway. 869 men participated in a telephone interview.


RESULTS
103 men (12%) claimed to have heard of the term PSA, but only half of them knew that it concerns prostate cancer. 61 (7%) had had their PSA measured. Of these, 25 had asked for a test. The remaining tests were performed on the physician's recommendation. Only 30% felt sufficiently well informed about the impact of PSA before the test was taken. Educational level was the most important factor for knowing the type of cancer that can be detected by PSA. Factors of importance for having taken the test were age and educational level. There were no significant geographical differences.


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates that the use of PSA tests in Norway is still relatively modest. Most men are not sufficiently well informed about the clinical significance of a diagnostic PSA test.
Skovlund
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Seksjon for medisinsk statistikk, Universitetet i Oslo. eva.skovlund@basalmed.uio.no
Fosså
S D
SD
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen