Variation in prostate specific antigen (PSA) test ordering in primary care centers: tendencies 2002-2009.
BACKGROUND
We aimed to compare the variation in PSA test ordering behavior between ten different health centers according to patients' age and the tendencies in PSA testing during the period of study (2002 - 2009).


METHODS
The study subjects attended 10 primary care centers in Alicante, Spain (2002 - 2009). Variables included: patient age, primary center, and year. We calculated percentages of PSA testing for each age group over the total PSA testing in each center and year.


RESULTS
A great variability has been shown between the different centers, mainly in patients where the controversy in PSA testing is higher: in the group including patients younger than 50 and those older than 85 years old. PSA testing percentages increased along the period of study for all the groups of age, except for the group of patients aged between 50 and 75 years old, where accordingly, PSA testing percentages decreased along the time.


CONCLUSIONS
These results may contribute to the discussion about the use of PSA testing and show the importance of a consensus among healthcare providers to facilitate adoption of an approach while international recommendations come to an agreement.
Public Health Department, University Miguel Hernandez, Alicante, Spain. blumbreras@umh.es
Blanca
B
Lumbreras
Maite
M
López-Garrigos
María
M
Salinas
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen