Informed decision making on PSA testing for the detection of prostate cancer: an evaluation of a leaflet with risk indicator.
BACKGROUND
Population-based screening for prostate cancer (PCa) remains controversial. To help men making informed decisions about prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening a risk indicator (www.uroweb.org) was developed. This risk indicator is embedded in a leaflet that informs men about the pros and cons of PCa screening and enables calculation of the individual risk of having a biopsy detectable PCa.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of providing a leaflet including individualized risk estimation on informed decision making of men, i.e. knowledge about PCa and PSA screening, attitude towards undergoing a PSA test and intention to have a PSA test.


METHODS
An intervention study among 2000 men, aged 55-65 years, randomly selected from the population registry of the city of Dordrecht, the Netherlands, in 2008. Men were sent a questionnaire on knowledge of PCa, attitude and intention to have a PSA test. Men without a history of (screening for) PCa were sent the leaflet and Questionnaire 2 within 2 weeks after returning Questionnaire 1. Validated health and anxiety measures were used.


RESULTS
One thousand and twenty seven of 2000 men completed Questionnaire 1 (51%), of whom 298 were excluded due to a history of (screening for) PCa. Of the 729 remaining men, 601 completed Questionnaire 2 as well. At the second assessment significantly more men met the requirements of informed decision making (15% versus 33%, p<0.001), more men had relevant knowledge (284/601, 50% versus 420/601, 77%, p<0.001) and the intention to have a PSA test had increased (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Providing information on PCa screening combined with individualized risk estimation enhanced informed decision making and may be used for shared decision making on PSA screening of physicians and patients.
van Vugt
Heidi A
HA
Department of Urology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.a.vanvugt@erasmusmc.nl
Roobol
Monique J
MJ
Venderbos
Lionne D F
LD
Joosten-van Zwanenburg
Evelien
E
Essink-Bot
Marie-Louise
ML
Steyerberg
Ewout W
EW
Bangma
Chris H
CH
Korfage
Ida J
IJ
D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen