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Helping doctors utilize the prostate‐specific antigen effectively: an online randomized controlled trial (The DUPE trial)
Author(s) -
Farah Sam S.,
Winter Matthew,
Appu Sree
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2012.06154.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rectal examination , randomized controlled trial , prostate cancer , prostate cancer screening , confidence interval , prostate specific antigen , family medicine , reading (process) , test (biology) , medical physics , gynecology , cancer , political science , law , biology , paleontology
Objectives The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of an information aid (IA) on doctor's knowledge about the strengths and limitations of prostate‐specific antigen/digital rectal examination (PSA/DRE) testing, and to help doctors make better and more informed decisions about prostate cancer screening. Methods An online randomized trial among 45 doctors in Victoria's public health‐care network that fulfilled CONSORT requirements was conducted. Participants were randomized to either immediate or delayed access to an online IA, and knowledge was compared across both groups at the conclusion of the trial. Results Doctors spent a mean time of 4:04 (95% confidence interval: 0.53–7:52) reading and completing the IA. Those who read IA were more knowledgeable (mean score out of 9, 7.45 versus 5.75, P < 0.0001). Potential harms and current literature findings were better recognized, as well as having a better understanding of what is meant by the term screening. Eighty‐two per cent found that IA helped them understand prostate cancer screening, and 73% found it easy to understand. Conclusion The IA increased knowledge, took minimal time to complete and was found to be helpful in understanding prostate cancer screening. Practical implications The IA is an easy‐to‐access resource that improves knowledge regarding the strengths and limitations of the PSA/DRE test for prostate cancer screening. Doctors who are unsure how to summarize the latest evidence should be directed towards the IA.