Study emphasizes need for long-term communication between physicians and patients regarding prostate cancer screening.
Established long-term relationships between primary care physicians and patients is important when it comes to prostate cancer screenings and treatment, researchers say.
In 2012, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended against prostate-specific antigen screening (PSA) procedures.
However, researchers say the task force study is flawed. With some organizations cautioning against routine population screening and others recommending it, patients are caught in the middle of the debate.
"The only way to find the serious prostate cancer cases is to screen," said study author Chad Lagrange, MD. "If there's a diagnosis, then men should get a second opinion to decide whether it needs to be treated based on the guidelines and all clinical information available."
When reviewing 1700 patient questionnaires regarding PSA screenings, the current study revealed mixed results. Out of the 4 categories evaluated, just 9% of patients had each area discussed.
Seventeen percent of patients were told experts disagree on whether men should have PSA tests done, while 23% were told that certain types of prostate cancer have slow growth rates and do not need treatment.
Meanwhile, 25% of patients were told PSA tests aren’t completely accurate for diagnosing prostate cancer. Another 21% were told that treating some prostate cancers can give you serious side effects, like urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
According to Dr. LaGrange, physicians should be focusing on the over-treatment of prostate cancer, as some cancers do not need treatment and should just be watched over time.
LaGrange also advises an open and honest relationship between patients and physicians, to ensure every option is being discussed.
"This speaks to the physician-patient relationship,” LaGrange said. “An open discussion is more likely with a provider with whom patients have a long-term relationship.”
Utafiti unaonyesha kuwa kuna haja ya mawasiliano ya muda mrefu kati ya madaktari na wagonjwa kuhusu uchunguzi wa saratani ya tezi-kibofu. Urafiki wa muda mrefu kati ya madaktari wa huduma ya msingi na wagonjwa ni muhimu wakati wa uchunguzi wa saratani ya prostate na matibabu, watafiti wanasema. Katika 2012, Marekani Preventive Services Task Force ilipendekeza dhidi ya prostate-specific antigen (PSA) taratibu. Hata hivyo, watafiti wanasema utafiti wa kikundi hicho una kasoro. Kwa kuwa baadhi ya mashirika yanatoa tahadhari dhidi ya uchunguzi wa kawaida wa watu na mengine yanapendekeza, wagonjwa wanakamatwa katikati ya mjadala. "Njia pekee ya kugundua visa vikali vya kansa ya tezi-kibofu ni kuchunguzwa", akasema mwandishi wa utafiti Chad Lagrange, MD. "Ikiwa kuna utambuzi, basi wanaume wanapaswa kupata maoni ya pili kuamua kama inahitaji kutibiwa kulingana na miongozo na habari zote za kliniki zinazopatikana. """ Katika uchunguzi wa maswali ya wagonjwa 1,700 kuhusu uchunguzi wa PSA, utafiti wa sasa ulifunua matokeo tofauti. Katika makundi manne ya wagonjwa, asilimia 9 tu ya wagonjwa walipata matibabu. Wataalamu wanasema asilimia 17 ya wagonjwa hawaamini kwamba wanaume wanapaswa kupimwa PSA, na asilimia 23 wanasema aina fulani za kansa ya tezi-kibofu zina kasi ya kupanda na hazihitaji matibabu. Kwa upande mwingine, asilimia 25 ya wagonjwa waliambiwa kwamba vipimo vya PSA havina usahihi wa kutosha kugundua kansa ya tezi-kibofu. Kwa upande mwingine, asilimia 21 waliambiwa kwamba matibabu ya saratani ya tezi-kibofu yanaweza kusababisha athari mbaya kama vile kukosa uwezo wa kuondoa mkojo na kutofaulu kwa erection. "Kulingana na Dk LaGrange, ""Daktari anapaswa kuzingatia matibabu ya kupita kiasi ya saratani ya tezi ya mkojo, kwani saratani zingine hazihitaji matibabu na zinapaswa kutazamwa kwa muda.""" LaGrange pia anapendekeza uhusiano wa wazi na wa uaminifu kati ya wagonjwa na madaktari, ili kuhakikisha kila chaguo linazungumziwa. "Hii inazungumza juu ya uhusiano wa daktari na mgonjwa", LaGrange alisema. <unk>Mjadala wa wazi ni uwezekano zaidi na mtoa huduma ambaye wagonjwa wana uhusiano wa muda mrefu. <unk>