Knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices among older men regarding prostate cancer

Objectives. This study determined population-based rates of reported prosta te cancer screening and assessed prostate cancer-related knowledge, attitud es, and screening practices among men in New York aged 50 years and older. Methods. Two telephone surveys were conducted. One was included in the 1994 and 1995 statewide Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System interviews, and the other was a community-level survey that targeted Black men (African -American Men Survey). Prevalence estimates were computed for each survey, and prostate cancer screening practices were assessed with logistic regress ion models. Results. Overall, fewer than 10% of the men in each survey perceived their prostate cancer risk to be high; almost 20% perceived no risk of developing the disease. Approximately 60% of the men ia each survey reported ever hav ing had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. In both surveys, physician advice was significantly associated with screening with a PSA test or a dig ital rectal examination. Also, race was significantly associated with scree ning in the statewide survey. Conclusions. Many New York men appear to be unaware of risk factors for pro state cancer. However. a substantial percentage reported having been screen ed for the disease; physician advice may have been a major determining fact or in their decision to be tested.