Time to de-implementation of low-value cancer screening practices: a narrative review

Abstract

The continued use of low-value cancer screening practices not only represents healthcare waste but also a potential cascade of invasive diagnostic procedures and patient anxiety and distress. While prior research has shown it takes an average of 15 years to implement evidence-based practices in cancer control, little is known about how long it takes to de-implement low-value cancer screening practices. We reviewed evidence on six United States Preventive Services Task Force 'Grade D' cancer screening practices: (1) cervical cancer screening in women<21 years and >65 years, (2) prostate cancer screening in men≥70 years and (3) ovarian, (4) thyroid, (5) testicular and (6) pancreatic cancer screening in asymptomatic adults. We measured the time from a landmark publication supporting the guideline publication and subsequent de-implementation, defined as a 50% reduction in the use of the practice in routine care. The pace of de-implementation was assessed using nationally representative surveillance systems and peer-reviewed literature from the USA. We found the time to de-implementation of cervical cancer screening was 4 years for women<21 and 16 years for women>65. Prostate screening in men ≥70 has not reached a 50% reduction in use since the 2012 guideline release. We did not identify sufficient evidence to measure the time to de-implementation for ovarian, thyroid, testicular and pancreatic cancer screening in asymptomatic adults. Surveillance of low-value cancer screening is sparse, posing a clear barrier to tracking the de-implementation of these screening practices. Improving the systematic measurement of low-value cancer control practices is imperative for assessing the impact of de-implementation on patient outcomes, healthcare delivery and healthcare costs.

Keywords: Implementation science; Quality measurement; Standards of care.

Figure 1. Time to de-implementation of selected USPSTF Grade D cancer screening practices. USPSTF, United States Preventive Services Task Force.