Enthusiasm for cancer screening in Great Britain: a general population survey

With growing concerns about risk of harm from cancer screening, particularly from overdiagnosis, this study aimed to assess public attitudes to cancer screening in Great Britain

Awareness of the 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force recommended changes in mammography screening guidelines, accuracy of awareness, sources of knowledge about recommendations, and attitudes about updated screening guidelines in women ages 40–49 and 50+

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The US Preventive Services Task Force updated mammography recommendations in 2009, recommending against routine screening for women ages 40–49 and reducing recommended frequency for women 50+. The recommendation changes were highly controversial and created conflicting recommendations across professional organizations. This study examines overall awareness of the changes, accuracy of knowledge about changes, factors related to both overall awareness and accuracy, sources of knowledge about changes, and attitudes about the new recommendations.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>National telephone survey of 508 women, half aged 40–49 and half 50+, conducted one year after the update (November/December 2010; cooperation rate was 36%). Measures include awareness, accuracy, source of knowledge, interactions with providers, and attitudes about the changes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fewer than half of women were aware of the guideline changes. Younger, more educated, and higher income women were more aware. Of those who were aware, only 12% correctly reported both change in age and frequency. Accuracy was not associated with demographics. The majority learned of changes through the media and the majority had negative attitudes about the changes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Despite widespread coverage of the recommendation changes, overall awareness in the relevant population is low. Increasing awareness and addressing attitudes about the changes is necessary to ensure the use of recommendations to impact screening behavior.</p

The effect of the USPSTF PSA screening recommendation on prostate cancer incidence patterns in the USA

Guidelines conflict regarding recommendations for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for early detection of prostate cancer. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) assigned a grade of D (recommending against screening) for men 75 and older in 2008 and for men of all ages in 2012. We reviewed temporal trends in rates of screening before and after the 2012 recommendation based on a literature search for studies published between 2011/01/01–2016/10/03 on PSA utilization patterns, changes in prostate cancer incidence and biopsy patterns, and how the recommendation has shaped physician and patient attitudes about PSA screening and subsequent ordering of other screening tests. Rates of PSA screening decreased by 3–10 percentage points among all age groups and within most U.S. geographic regions. Rates of prostate biopsy and prostate cancer incidence have declined in unison, with a notable shift towards higher grade, stage and risk upon detection. Despite the recommendation, some physicians reported ongoing willingness to screen appropriately selected men, and men largely reported intending to continue to ask for the PSA test. In the coming years, we expect to have a better picture of whether these decreased rates of screening will impact prostate cancer metastasis and mortality