Prostate cancer knowledge and screening attitudes of inner-city men

A81

Introduction: We report the results of a questionnaire administered to inner-city men to determine their knowledge of prostate health and their attitudes on prostate cancer screening prior to and after a brief prostate health educational intervention.
 Materials and Methods: A 30-item questionnaire designed to assess prostate knowledge and screening attitudes was administered to 100 eligible men presenting to a Urology clinic at an inner-city tertiary care hospital prior to and after a brief educational intervention.
 Results: Mean initial knowledge score was 47% compared to 80% after the educational intervention (p < 0.0001). In multivariate regression analysis, higher educational levels and having had a serum PSA within the past 12 months were significantly associated with higher knowledge scores (p = 0.02 and 0.0008, respectively). Prior to the intervention, the majority of men (76%) were in favor of early detection. Interestingly after the brief intervention the attitudes did not change significantly (76% vs. 84%, p = 0.20). Having had a serum PSA within the past 12 months was the only variable associated with aggressive screening behavior in a multivariate regression model (p = 0.0009). Lastly responders who scored poorly (< 50%) on the knowledge survey generally had less favorable attitudes toward prostate cancer screening (p = 0.037).
 Conclusions: Though this study raises the possibility that educational programs could improve men’s overall prostate cancer knowledge and increase screening in communities where prostate cancer continues to be a major healthcare issue, other factors must be taken into account when addressing prostate cancer screening rates in the inner-city.