Patient and primary care clinician perspectives on polygenic risk scores for prostate cancer screening: a national qualitative study.

Purpose

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) have been proposed as adjuncts to clinical risk prediction for prostate cancer, but little is known about patient-centered implementation of PRS-informed shared decision-making (SDM). We explored patients' and primary care clinicians' perspectives on using PRS in SDM about prostate cancer screening.

Methods

We interviewed 2 national samples-male patients aged 40-60 years without prior prostate cancer, and primary care clinicians-within a national integrated healthcare system, about current screening practices, understanding of PRS, and anticipated impact on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing decisions. Transcripts were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach.

Results

We interviewed 21 primary care providers (MD/DO/NP/PA), 7 primary care nurses (RN/LPN), and 42 patients. Many clinicians saw utility in PRS for individualizing screening, especially for high-risk patients, though some did not anticipate changing their PSA testing approach. Clinicians anticipated patients would struggle to understand PRS, and some patients did misunderstand genetic risk and how to interpret results. Most patients did not anticipate delaying or reducing PSA testing after low-risk results, but many said high-risk results would motivate earlier or more frequent screening.

Conclusion

Clinicians and patients anticipate acting on PRS results asymmetrically, favoring heightened screening for high-risk individuals but not reduced screening for those at low risk. Current PSA testing is already variable and not always guideline-concordant; introducing PRS will require additional strategies to promote high-quality SDM.