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Reviewed research
Authors Hudson B, Zarifeh A, Young L, Wells JE
Review Date December 2012
Citation Annals of Family Medicine 2012;10(6):495-502
Background
Controversies about the magnitude of benefits gained from screening for cancers, especially breast and prostate cancer, have been widely discussed. For prostate cancer, some professional guidelines overtly recommend against PSA testing and it is generally agreed that decisions about PSA testing by individual men should be informed by the latest evidence on benefits and risks. However, facilitating informed decision-making for screening tests in general practice is challenging with some research showing that people often overestimate benefits and underestimate risks of screening, and published patient information can be biased towards presenting the positive aspects of screening.
Aim
This New Zealand study assessed participants’ estimates of the benefit, as well as minimum acceptable benefit, of screening for breast and bowel cancer and medication to prevent hip fracture and cardiovascular disease.
Methods
Three general practitioners sent questionnaires to all patients aged 50 to 70 years registered in their practices. Patients agreeing to participate in the study were asked to estimate the number of events (fractures or deaths) prevented in a group of 5,000 patients undergoing each intervention over a period of 10 years, and to indicate the minimum number of events avoided by the intervention that they considered justified its use. The proportions of participants who overestimated each intervention’s benefit were calculated, and univariate and multivariable analyses of predictors of response were performed.
Results
The participation rate was 36%: 977 patients were invited to participate in the study, and 354 returned a completed questionnaire. Participants overestimated the degree of benefit conferred by all interventions: 90% of participants overestimated the effect of breast cancer screening, 94% overestimated the effect of bowel cancer screening, 82% overestimated the effect of hip fracture preventive medication, and 69% overestimated the effect of preventive medication for cardiovascular disease. Estimates of minimum acceptable benefit were more conservative, but other than for cardiovascular disease mortality prevention, most respondents indicated a minimum benefit greater than these interventions achieve. A lower level of education was associated with higher estimates of minimum acceptable benefit for all interventions.
Conclusion
Patients overestimated the risk reduction achieved with 4 examples of screening and preventive medications. A lower level of education was associated with higher minimum benefit to justify intervention use. This tendency to overestimate benefits may affect patients’ decisions to use such interventions, and practitioners should be aware of this tendency when discussing these interventions with patients.
Points to Note
- The results confirm findings from other studies showing that people generally have a tendency to overestimate benefits of health interventions, including screening tests
- In a study such as this one, it is difficult to present the relevant information in a mailed questionnaire and it is unclear how well the participants understood the survey questions or the possible responses they could choose.
- Notably, participants were not asked to consider risks from the interventions in their assessments, which might have changed their perceptions of benefit.
- A low response rate and inclusion of only 3 practices may limit generalisability of the findings.
- Interestingly a history of screening or intervention for the conditions in the questionnaire was not associated with estimates of benefit.
- The associations of a lower level of education and older age with overestimates of benefit underline the importance of appropriate information provision for patients of all education levels.
- Although the study has shortcomings, it is timely to consider patient perceptions regarding benefits and risks of cancer screening tests. Although not included in this particular study, the findings are likely to be relevant to developing ways of facilitating informed decision-making for PSA testing.
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