Patient knowledge about prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate cancer in Australia.

Abstract

To assess whether men undergoing prostate biopsies for raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations were adequately counselled before their first PSA test. Men were given a PSA information sheet and interviewed immediately before undergoing transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)/prostate biopsy. Information collected included whether they had been informed of the test, whether they were aware of TRUS/biopsy and whether possible treatments for prostate cancer had been discussed. They were asked whether the information sheet would have changed their opinion on testing. 50 men were interviewed and 48 had their first test arranged by their general practitioner. 12.5% of men were adequately counselled using recently defined criteria. 4 (8.3%) men would not have had a PSA test if they had received adequate prior information Counselling before serum PSA testing remains inadequate. Patient information sheets may help the discussions and should be made more widely available.