PERCEIVED BENEFITS - A PREDICTOR OF PARTICIPATION IN PROSTATE-CANCER SCREENING

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed major cancer and the second cause of cancer-related deaths among men. With early detection through screening and timely treatment, 9 out of 10 men will survive a minimum of 5 years. However, with late diagnoses, only 3 our of 10 me n will have a 5-year minimum survival rate. Guided by a conceptual map , this correlational research examined perceived benefits as a predict or of participation in free prostate cancer screening. Perceived benef its ape the personal belief and valuing of screening for early detecti on of prostate cancer All subjects received one of four educational in terventions: traditional, peer educator, client navigator, or combinat ion. Participation in prostate cancer screening was measured by compli ance with the American Cancer Society's Guidelines, which included a d igital rectal exam (DRE) and/or a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) bloo d test. The purposive sample (n = 1,522) of men, ages 40 to 70 years, was recruited from randomly selected churches, barbershops, industries , housing projects, and car dealerships in a southeastern state. Seven ty-two percent of the sample was African American. Predictors of parti cipation in fee prostate cancer screening were these: perceived benefi ts, being white, having at least a high school education, being marrie d and receiving the client navigator or combination educational interv ention. The Benefits Scale was significant (p = 0.013, odds ratio (OR) = 1.059) as a predictor for participation in screening when all demog raphic variables and educational interventions were controlled. Practi ce implications for nursing are discussed and recommendations for futu re research are presented.