Family Practice Vol. 20, No. 6, 655-661
© Oxford University Press 2003, all rights reserved
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Promoting better use of the PSA test in general practice: randomized controlled trial of educational strategies based on outreach visits and mailout
Division of Community Health Sciences—General Practice, University of Edinburgh, UK, a School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, b Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia, c Department of General Practice, Flinders University of South Australia, d Centre for General Practice, University of Queensland and e Monash Institute of Public Health and Health Services Research, Australia.
Correspondence to Professor David Weller, Division of Community Health Sciences—General Practice, University of Edinburgh, 20 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DX, UK; Email david.weller{at}ed.ac.uk
Background. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer is controversial. Demand for PSA testing is likely to rise in the UK, Australia and other western countries. Primary care needs to develop appropriate strategies to respond to this demand.
Objectives. Our aim was to compare the effectiveness of educational outreach visits (EOVs) and mailout strategies targeting PSA testing in Australian primary care.
Methods. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in general practices in southern Adelaide. The main outcome measures at baseline, 6 months and 12 months post-intervention were PSA testing rates and GP knowledge in key areas relating to prostate cancer and PSA testing.
Results. The interventions were able to demonstrate a change in clinical practice. In the 6 months post-intervention, median PSA testing rate in the EOV group was significantly lower than in the postal group, which in turn was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.001). Statistically significant differences were not, however, maintained in the 6–12 month post-intervention period. The EOV group, at 6 months follow-up, had a significantly greater proportion of ‘correct’ responses than the control group to questions about prostate cancer treatment effectiveness (P = 0.004) and endorsement of PSA screening by professional bodies (P = 0.041).
Conclusions. Primary care has a central role in PSA testing for prostate cancer. Clinical practice in this area is receptive to evidence-based interventions.
Keywords. Primary care, prostate-specific antigen, PSA test, randomized controlled trial.
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