BACKGROUND: Controversy surrounds prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer screening, especially among elderly men aged 75 and older. This study examines whether patient age results in differential use of PSA testing and if organizational attributes such as communication, stress, decision making, and practice history of change predict PSA testing among men aged 75 and older. METHODS: Data came from chart audits of 1149 men > or =50 years old who were patients of 46 family medicine practices participating in 2 northeastern practice-based research networks. Surveys administered to clinicians and staff in each practice provide practice-level data. A stratified Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test was applied to examine whether PSA testing decreased with age. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses determined characteristics associated with PSA testing for men > or =75 years old. RESULTS: Comparable rates for annual PSA testing of 77.2% for men aged 50 to 74 years and 74.6% for men > or =75 years old were reported. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test indicated no significant change in trend. Hierarchical models suggest that practice communication is the only organizational attribute that influences PSA testing for men 75 years of age or older (odds ratio, 5.04; P = .022). Practices with higher communication scores (eg, promoted constructive work relationships and a team atmosphere between staff and clinicians) screened men aged 75 and older at lower rates than others. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly men in community settings receive PSA testing at rates comparable to their younger counterparts even though major clinical practice guidelines discourage the practice for this population. Intraoffice practice interventions that target PSA testing to the most appropriate populations and focus on communication (both within the office and with patients) are needed.
BACKGROUND: Controversy surrounds prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer screening, especially among elderly men aged 75 and older. This study examines whether patient age results in differential use of PSA testing and if organizational attributes such as communication, stress, decision making, and practice history of change predict PSA testing among men aged 75 and older. METHODS: Data came from chart audits of 1149 men > or =50 years old who were patients of 46 family medicine practices participating in 2 northeastern practice-based research networks. Surveys administered to clinicians and staff in each practice provide practice-level data. A stratified Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test was applied to examine whether PSA testing decreased with age. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses determined characteristics associated with PSA testing for men > or =75 years old. RESULTS: Comparable rates for annual PSA testing of 77.2% for men aged 50 to 74 years and 74.6% for men > or =75 years old were reported. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test indicated no significant change in trend. Hierarchical models suggest that practice communication is the only organizational attribute that influences PSA testing for men 75 years of age or older (odds ratio, 5.04; P = .022). Practices with higher communication scores (eg, promoted constructive work relationships and a team atmosphere between staff and clinicians) screened men aged 75 and older at lower rates than others. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly men in community settings receive PSA testing at rates comparable to their younger counterparts even though major clinical practice guidelines discourage the practice for this population. Intraoffice practice interventions that target PSA testing to the most appropriate populations and focus on communication (both within the office and with patients) are needed.
Authors: Lars Holmberg; Anna Bill-Axelson; Fred Helgesen; Jaakko O Salo; Per Folmerz; Michael Häggman; Swen-Olof Andersson; Anders Spångberg; Christer Busch; Steg Nordling; Juni Palmgren; Hans-Olov Adami; Jan-Erik Johansson; Bo Johan Norlén Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2002-09-12 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Leah Y Nakamura; Rafael N Nunez; Paul E Andrews; Robert G Ferrigni; Mitchell R Humphreys; Scott K Swanson; Christopher E Wolter; Erik P Castle Journal: J Robot Surg Date: 2011-02-05
Authors: Cynthia So; Katharine A Kirby; Kala Mehta; Richard M Hoffman; Adam A Powell; Stephen J Freedland; Brenda Sirovich; Elizabeth M Yano; Louise C Walter Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2011-12-17 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Shawna V Hudson; Karissa A Hahn; Pamela Ohman-Strickland; Regina S Cunningham; Suzanne M Miller; Benjamin F Crabtree Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2009-11 Impact factor: 5.128