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05:19
A New Technique for Treating Low-risk Prostate Cancer—Super Active Surveillance
Published on: November 7, 2025
Primary care physician PSA screening practices before and after the final U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Joshua A Cohn1, Chihsiung E Wang2, Justin C Lakeman2
1Section of Urology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Urologic Oncology
|August 6, 2013
Summary
Primary care physicians reduced prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing after the 2012 USPSTF recommendation. This decrease was most significant in younger and older men, indicating a shift toward more selective screening practices.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Preventive Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a recommendation in May 2012 advising against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for all men.
- Primary care physicians (PCPs) play a crucial role in implementing screening guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the 2012 USPSTF recommendation on PSA screening trends among PCPs.
- To assess changes in PSA testing frequency before and after the USPSTF guideline update.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of electronic health data from 112,221 men aged 40-79 between 2007 and 2012.
- Comparison of PSA testing rates in the 6-month periods before (2011) and after (2012) the USPSTF recommendation.
- Focus on men without a prior prostate cancer diagnosis or urology visit.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant decrease in PSA screening was observed between 2011 (8.6%) and 2012 (7.6%), P = 0.0001.
- The reduction in screening was most pronounced in younger men (40-49 years) and older men (70-79 years).
- Decreased screening rates were also noted in men with prior PSA levels below 2.5 ng/ml.
Conclusions:
- PCPs' PSA testing frequency declined following the 2012 USPSTF recommendation.
- Evidence suggests PCPs are adopting more selective screening strategies.
- The observed trends highlight a potential shift in clinical practice influenced by updated screening guidelines.
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