Congratulations to our 2024 Bree Collaborative award winner for Best Practices in Prostate Cancer Screening:

• Community Health Plan of Washington
• Kaiser Permanente
• MultiCare

(Adopted November 2015)

Prostate cancer screening is variable and may expose men to increased risk of harm, increased cost, and lower quality of life. This workgroup met from February to November 2015 to recommends evidence-based best practice for prostate cancer specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer screening including that:

• All men be evaluated by their provider for family history and factors that may elevate the risk of prostate cancer (e.g., sibling or parent with a prostate or breast cancer diagnosis, race).
• To not do routine screening with PSA testing for average risk men 70 years and older, under 55 years old, who have significant co-morbid conditions, or with a life expectancy less than 10 years.
• For primary care clinicians, two possible pathways, depending on the physician’s interpretation of the evidence.
  • Clinicians who believe there is overall benefit from screening with PSA testing should order this test for average risk men between 55-69 years old only after a formal and documented shared decision-making process.
  • Clinicians who believe there is overall harm from screening with PSA testing may initiate testing of average-risk men aged 55-69 at the request of the patient after a formal and documented shared decision-making process.
• Only men who express a definite preference for screening after discussing the advantages, disadvantages, and scientific uncertainty should have screening with PSA testing.

Supporting Materials

Letter from Health Care Authority Accepting Prostate Cancer Screening Report and Recommendations
Prostate Cancer Screening Public Comments
Prostate Cancer Screening Charter

Workgroup Members