Why Men In The United Kingdom Still Want The Prostate Specific Antigen Test

In a report in the January 2008 issue of Qualitative Health Research, an Oxford University team of sociologists led by Alison Chapple analyzed British men's views and experiences regarding PSA screening. The UK has no formal national screening program for prostate cancer (CaP) but in 2001 the UK Department of Health introduced the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Program (PCRMP), which gives men access to the PSA test if they are first informed about its benefits and limitations. All general practitioners in UK received information about the PCRMP. The authors who have previously reported on British men's views on heath screening sought to explore men's views since the PCRMP was introduced.

The objectives of the research was to explore men's understanding of the PSA test, their perceptions of the information they received, the factors that they said influenced them when deciding whether to have a test, and their understanding of the results. The analysis included 30 men who underwent 1-2 hour interviews in their homes. Participant range was ages 40-78, almost all were white and most were recruited via their general practitioner

. Overall, the views were similar to those noted prior to the introduction of the PCRMP. Most men described having been given little information and encouraged by wives, friends, and the media to have the test. Three aspects dominated the views of the men interviewed; that PSA is perceived and approached by men and doctors as "just another blood test", that any testing for cancer is responsible health behavior, and that there is a lack of communication about the uncertainty that is inherent in the test and treatment options. Some men viewed PSA screening as civic duty to advance medical science, others as prevention is better than cure. Overall however, men interviewed were still unsure about the meaning of the PSA test and received little information from their general practitioners. Men often seemed unprepared for the possible adverse consequences of having the test, including the uncertainties about the value of treatment.