[Dissemination of evidence-based information about PSA test and prostatic cancer to physicians].
BACKGROUND
This paper describes the evaluation of an initiative to disseminate to general practitioners, urologists and patients in Norway evidence from systematic reviews on the clinical effectiveness of prostate cancer screening. Nine systematic reviews concluded that there is no evidence that early detection and treatment of prostate cancer reduces mortality or morbidity or improve patients' quality of life.


METHODS
Evidence-based information about prostrate-specific antigen and prostate cancer, including patient information leaflets, was disseminated to 4100 general practitioners and specialists in urology in Norway in March 2001. One year later they were mailed a questionnaire aimed at evaluating how they had perceived and implemented this information.


RESULTS
The results of the survey (response rate 41%) showed a marked contrast between general practitioners and urologists. 91% of general practitioners versus 61% of urologists agreed to the recommendation that prostrate-specific antigen tests should not be taken by healthy men. 87% of general practitioners but only 33% of urologists followed up the recommendations in their practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Dissemination of evidence-based information about prostrate-specific antigen and prostate cancer was appreciated by general practitioners, had the power to convince and contributed to enhanced knowledge of a controversial issue, thereby increasing their confidence in their clinical decision making.
Norderhaug
Inger N
IN
Senter for medisinsk metodevurdering, SINTEF Helse. inger.norderhaug@kunnskapssenteret.no
Wisløff
Torbjørn
T
Fosså
Sophie
S
Sandberg
Sverre
S
Malde
Kjeld
K
Forland
Frode
F
Førde
Olav Helge
OH
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003657:Decision Making; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005194:Family Practice; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009664:Norway; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014572:Urology
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen