Abstract 38: External Quality Assessment for Prostate Specific Antigen Test Accuracy: A Needs Assessment of Nigerian Tertiary Hospitals

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Prostate cancer is a major cause of death in African men, and the accuracy of prostate specific antigen (PSA) test results is important to ensure patients have access to accurate early diagnosis and treatment. External Quality Assessment (EQA) is an established framework to improve the quality of PSA results. We aimed to determine the need for implementing an EQA program for PSA in Nigeria. Methods: We used mixed-method design to collect data from 6 tertiary hospitals across the six regions in Nigeria. We conducted an online survey using a structured questionnaire developed from the International Standard Organization (ISO) 15189 checklist for accreditation of diagnostic laboratories. Responses were analyzed to obtain descriptive categorical data that was analyzed on Microsoft Excel. Using an in-depth interview guide, 12 respondents (6 Urologists and 6 Chemical Pathologists) from sampled hospitals were interviewed virtually. Responses were recorded and transcribed and relevant themes were identified and generated from the transcribed data. Results: Five of six laboratories sampled (83%) reported conducting repeat PSA testing. No sampled lab (0%) was enrolled in an EQA program for PSA. Eleven of the twelve respondents confirmed occasional disparities between PSA results and patient’s clinical status. They gave the impact of an erroneous PSA result on patient care as: extra unnecessary cost to the patient due to repeat testing; delay in decision making and initiating appropriate treatment; unnecessary invasive procedures. Training of lab staff, adoption of standard operating procedures and quality measures for EQA were considered opportunities to encourage PSA EQA practice while lack of funds for EQA programs, weak logistics for distribution of EQA samples and results, poor staff motivation and commitment were mentioned as barriers to effective practice uptake. Conclusion: There is a clear need for the implementation of an EQA program for PSA in Nigeria. This will reduce the incidence of incongruous PSA results, thus promoting better clinician approach to disease treatment and better patient outcomes especially in resource-constrained environments. Citation Format: Ifeyinwa Nnakenyi, Tonia Onyeka, Ngozi Idemili-Aronu1, Justus Onu, Echezona Ezeanolue. External Quality Assessment for Prostate Specific Antigen Test Accuracy: A Needs Assessment of Nigerian Tertiary Hospitals [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Closing the Research-to-Implementation Gap; 2023 Apr 4-6. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 38.