RT Journal
A1 Volk RJ, Wolf AD
T1 GRading the new us preventive services task force prostate cancer screening recommendation
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2011
FD December 28
VO 306
IS 24
SP 2715
OP 2716
DO 10.1001/jama.2011.1893
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.1893
AB 
On October 11, 2011, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued for public comment a draft recommendation statement regarding screening for prostate cancer.1 The public comment period is a new step taken by the USPSTF prior to finalizing its recommendation statements to help make its recommendations clearer and more useful to primary care providers. In taking this step, the task force signaled its intention to change its 2008 recommendation from a grade I statement (the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of the benefits and harms of the service) to a grade D recommendation—“The US Preventive Services Task Force . . . recommends against prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer.” Following an updated review of the evidence, the USPSTF concluded that there is moderate certainty that the harms of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer outweigh the benefits. The reaction from the media to the impending change has been swift, and organizations that support screening for prostate cancer in general have criticized the new recommendation. Is this reaction justified?