African-American men and intention to adhere to recommended follow-up for an abnormal prostate cancer early detection examination result

Objectives. To assess the intention of African-American men to have the rec ommended follow-up in the event of an abnormal prostate cancer early detect ion examination and to identify the variables that help to explain adherenc e intention. Methods. In the spring of 1995, we selected a random sample of 548 African- American men who were patients at the University of Chicago Health Service. The sample included men who were 40 to 70 years of age, did not have a per sonal history of prostate cancer, and had a working telephone number. A tot al of 413 men who completed the telephone survey received an invitation to consider undergoing a prostate cancer early detection examination. The surv ey provided data on personal background characteristics, knowledge, attitud es, and beliefs related to prostate cancer and early detection. Respondents were asked whether they would choose to have the recommended follow-up in the event of an abnormal early detection examination result. Univariate and multivariate analyses of intention to have follow-up were performed. Results. An intention to have the recommended follow-up was reported by 77% of the survey respondents. The results of multivariate analyses revealed t hat the intention to have the follow-up was positively associated with educ ation beyond high school (odds ratio [OR] 1.9); perceived self-efficacy rel ated to prostate cancer screening (OR 2.1); the belief that prostate cancer can be cured (OR 3.3); the belief that prostate cancer screening should be done in the absence of prostate problems (OR 2.3); and physician support f or prostate cancer screening (OR 2.1). Conclusions. African-American men who have a high school education or less may be at risk of nonadherence to recommended follow-up. Adherence also may be low among men who do not have Favorable views of early detection or do not perceive strong physician support for early detection. Research is need ed to determine whether intention and other factors predict actual adherenc e to follow-up in this population group. UROLOGY 55: 716-720, 2000. (C) 200 0, Elsevier Science Inc.