Self-reported prostate cancer screening in Austria.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of self-reported participation and frequency of prostate cancer screening (digital rectal examination (DRE), prostate-specific antigen (PSA)) in Austrian men aged 40-79 years in the year 2005 is reported.


METHODS
In a population-based cross-sectional study, a representative sample of 500 men was asked whether they ever had heard of early detection of prostate cancer by DRE or PSA test and, if so, whether they had ever had a prostate cancer screening test during their life, and if so the number of tests and the type of physician.


RESULTS
Overall, the prevalence of self-reported prostate cancer screening was 55.8% (23.7% DRE only). The highest prevalence was observed in the age group of 60-69 years with 68.8% (28.1% DRE only). The highest prevalence of PSA tests was observed in the age group 70-79 years (40.9%). About 75% of the screening tests were performed by urologists.


CONCLUSIONS
More than half of the target population (men aged 40-79 years) have had at least one prostate cancer screening test. Nearly one-third of men have already had one or more PSA tests. One-fifth of the PSA tests were requested by general practitioners or internists.
Vutuc
Christian
C
Department of Epidemiology, Centre of Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Waldhoer
Thomas
T
Sevelda
Paul
P
Micksche
Michael
M
Haidinger
Gerald
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D051517:Digital Rectal Examination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen