Primary care perspective of prostate cancer screening after national guidance: a questionnaire survey

National guidance (executive letter) EL(97)12 stated that population screen ing should not be provided by the NHS, or be offered to the public until th ere is effective screening technology for prostate cancer. The study set ou t to determine the views of general practitioners and, indirectly, their pr actice staff on prostate cancer screening in primary care upon receiving EL (97)12. This postal questionnaire survey reveals that 81% (95% CI 75% to 87 %) of responding general practitioners in North Staffordshire agreed with E L(97)12 and one in ten said that the executive letter changed their views, suggesting that such national guidance has an effect.