AUTHOR=Misra-Hebert Anita D. , Hom Grant , Klein Eric A. , Bauman Janine M. , Gupta Niyati , Ji Xinge , Stephenson Andrew J. , Jones J. Stephen , Kattan Michael W. 

TITLE=Testing of a Tool for Prostate Cancer Screening Discussions in Primary Care

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2018

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2018.00238

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2018.00238

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Background
As prostate cancer (PCa) screening decisions often occur in outpatient primary care, a brief tool to help the PCa screening conversation in busy clinic settings is needed.  

Methods
A previously created 9-item tool to aid PCa screening discussions was tested in 5 diverse primary care clinics. Fifteen providers were recruited to use the tool for 4 weeks and the tool was revised based upon feedback. The providers then used the tool with a convenience sample of patients during routine clinic visits. Pre- and post-visit surveys were administered to assess patients’ knowledge of the option to be screened for PCa and of specific factors to consider in the decision. McNemar’s and Stuart-Maxwell tests were used to compare pre-and post-survey responses.

Results
Fourteen of 15 providers completed feedback surveys and had positive responses to the tool. All 15 providers then tested the tool on 95 men age 40-69 at the 5 clinics with 2-10 patients each. The proportion of patients who strongly agreed that they had the option to choose to screen for PCa increased from 57-72% (p=0.018) from the pre- to post-survey, that there are factors in the personal or family history that may affect PCa risk from 34 to 47% (p=0.012), and that their opinions about possible side effects of treatment for PCa should be considered in the decision from 47 to 61% (p=0.009). 

Conclusions
A brief conversation tool for the PCa screening discussion was well-received in busy primary care settings, and improved patients’ knowledge about the screening decision.