Table 4 KQ1 eligibility criteria (benefits and harms of screening)
Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria | |
|---|---|---|
Population | Individuals not known to be at elevated risk for prostate cancer. Secondary analyses for decision-making: • Screening interval (KQ1) • PSA thresholds (KQ1b) • Age: <55 years, 55-69 years, ≥70 years (KQ1c) • Race and/or ethnicity (KQ1d) • Obesity, as defined by study authors (KQ1d) • Family history (KQ1d) | Individuals <18 years. Individuals with a pre-existing or previous history of prostate cancer. Individuals specifically selected for the presence of another condition or risk factor (i.e., individuals working with chemicals known to be carcinogenic or individuals with known genetic markers). Individuals who have had a previous PSA screen and/or individuals with a “normal” change in urine function are not excluded. Normal will be defined by clinician judgment. |
Interventions | One or more clinical or lab tests (e.g., PSA+DRE, PSA alone, DRE alone) with or without additional tests before the biopsy. | Other screening methods that do not include PSA or DRE. |
Comparator | No screening Usual care Alternate type of screening within the options previously stated (e.g., DRE alone) [KQ1a] | N/A |
Outcomes | Potential benefits 1. Reduced prostate cancer mortality 2. Reduced all-cause mortality 3. Reduced incidence of metastatic cancer Potential harms 4. False positives 5. Overdiagnosisa 6. Complications due to biopsy 7. Incontinence (urinary or bowel) 8. Erectile dysfunction Either benefit or harm 9. Quality of life or functioning (overall and disease-specific*) 10. Psychological effects As defined/reported by the study authors. *scales with acceptable measurement properties (e.g., validity, reliability) for use in prostate cancer | N/A |
Timing of outcome assessment | Any timing | N/A |
Setting | Primary care settings | Settings not generalizable to primary care |
Study design | Benefits and harms Randomized (including cluster RCTs), quasi-randomized, and controlled clinical trials Harms only Cohort studies (if needed)b | Editorials, commentaries, letters, conference proceedings, government reports, case series, case report, narrative reviews, systematic reviewsc |
Language | English or French | N/A |
Dates of publication | All dates are included (as per the UK NSC search), however, the current update will include 2019 to present | N/A |