RECEPTIVITY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN TO PROSTATE-CANCER SCREENING

Objective. The lifetime risk of prostate cancer among African-American men is two times higher than that of white men. Mortality from the di sease is almost three times greater in African-Americans than in white s. This study assesses the receptivity of older (fifty to seventy-four years of age) African-American men (n = 86) in Chicago to periodic (a nnual and semiannual) prostate cancer screening. Methods. A telephone survey conducted in January and February 1993, was used to collect dat a on subject sociodemographic background and medical history and to ga ther information on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about prostate c ancer and screening. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with subject receptivity to annual and semiannual screening. Results. Logistic regression analyses revea led that receptivity to annual and semi-annual (every six months) exam ination is strongly associated with the degree to which screening is p erceived as a salient and coherent (i.e., important, effective, and co nvenient) preventive health behavior. An additional factor independent ly associated with willingness to go through semiannual screening was subjects' awareness that African-American men are at increased risk fo r prostate cancer compared to white men. Conclusions. Findings from th is study suggest that African-American men are willing to undergo pros tate screening and are more receptive to annual than semiannual screen ing. Participation in screening may be facilitated by the provision of health education messages that emphasize the salience and coherence o f early detection and elevated population risk.