Odette Wegwarth
Do Physicians Understand Cancer Screening Statistics? A National Survey of Primary Care Physicians in the United States
Max Planck Institute for Human Development
reader survey test knowledge cancer screening statistics background unlike reduced mortality rates improved survival rates increased early detection prove cancer screening tests save lives nevertheless 2 statistics often used promote screening objective learn whether primary care physicians understand statistics provide evidence whether screening saves lives design parallelgroup randomized trial randomization controlled order effect conducted internet survey clinicaltrialsgov registration number nct00981019 setting national sample us primary care physicians research panel maintained harris interactive 79 cooperation rate participants 297 physicians practiced inpatient outpatient medicine surveyed 2010 115 physicians practiced exclusively outpatient medicine surveyed 2011 intervention physicians received scenarios effect 2 hypothetical screening tests effect described improved 5year survival increased early detection one scenario decreased cancer mortality increased incidence measurements physicians recommendation screening perception benefit scenarios general knowledge screening statistics results primary care physicians enthusiastic screening test supported irrelevant evidence 5year survival increased 68 99 test supported relevant evidence cancer mortality reduced 2 16 1000 persons presented irrelevant evidence 69 physicians recommended test compared 23 presented relevant evidence p 0001 asked general knowledge questions screening statistics many physicians distinguish irrelevant relevant screening evidence 76 versus 81 respectively stated statistics proves screening saves lives p 039 one half 47 physicians incorrectly said finding cases cancer screened opposed unscreened populations proves screening saves lives limitation physicians recommendations screening based hypothetical scenarios actual practice conclusion primary care physicians mistakenly interpreted improved survival increased detection screening evidence screening saves lives correctly recognized reduced mortality randomized trial constitutes evidence benefit screening primary funding source harding center risk literacy max planck institute human development