Prevalent use of PST test has helped in early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in men. This has significantly contributed to a reduction in mortality linked to prostate cancer ( Mackintosh, 2016 ). PSA testing is a common procedure in elderly patients despite some evidence indicating that older men with no aggressive prostate cancer could less likely gain from being diagnosed and treated ( Mackintosh, 2016 ). It is proposed that approximately 30 percent of all the prostate cancers diagnosed might have stayed clinically unnoticed in life. One early PSA is associated with increased possibility of being diagnosed with prostate cancer and mortality in young men ( Mackintosh, 2016 ). Despite controversies related to efficacy of the test, it is considered that the test is also of no benefit in older men. Although PSA is not linked to reduced mortality as a result of prostate cancer, it is a procedure that is commonly performed by healthcare professionals hence the need to determine if it does reduce the possibility of death in elderly men. This is essential for evidence based practice that is key for better patient outcomes and improved quality of care.
A PICO question was developed to determine if Prostate Specific Antigen testing decreases the risk of mortality associated with prostate cancer in elderly men. The PICO question is: Do asymptomatic male adults older than 75 years who receive a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test have a decreased risk for mortality as a result of prostate cancer compared to their counterparts who do not perform a PSA test?
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P (Population) – Older asymptomatic older males who have a PSA test performed
I (Intervention) – Prostate Specific Antigen test
C (Comparison) - Older male patients who are asymptomatic and do not receive a PSA test
O (Outcome) – Reduced risk of mortality from prostate cancer
Reference
Mackintosh, F. R., Sprenkle, P. C., Walter, L. C., Rawson, L., Karnes, R. J., Morrell, C. H., … Neville, T. B. (2016). Age and Prostate-Specific Antigen Level Prior to Diagnosis Predict Risk of Death from Prostate Cancer. Frontiers in Oncology , 6 . doi: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00157
