Related Experiment Videos
Prostate-specific antigen for prostate cancer screening. Do physician characteristics affect its use?
K L Edlefsen1, M T Mandelson, M W McIntosh
1University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|August 3, 1999
Summary
Physician characteristics like graduation year and gender influence prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test use for prostate cancer screening. Reimbursement models also affect screening recommendations.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Oncology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Prostate cancer screening using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is controversial.
- Lack of consensus exists in medical literature and among organizations regarding routine PSA screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how physicians respond to inconsistent expert recommendations on PSA screening.
- To examine the relationship between physician characteristics and PSA test utilization for prostate cancer screening.
Main Methods:
- A 1994 survey of 1369 primary care physicians in Washington State.
- A 63% response rate was achieved.
- Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyzed factors influencing PSA screening practices.
Main Results:
- 68% of surveyed physicians reported routine PSA screening for asymptomatic men aged 50-80.
- PSA use varied by practice setting, years since graduation, and compensation type (fee-for-service vs. salaried).
- Male physicians trained before 1974 and those on fee-for-service were more likely to recommend PSA screening.
Conclusions:
- Physicians' personal characteristics, including graduation year and gender, correlate with self-reported PSA screening use.
- Reimbursement models significantly impact physicians' decisions regarding PSA screening recommendations.