Prostate Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs & Screening

BACKGROUND: Every 24 hours, prostate cancer claims the lives of over 80 American men. The American Cancer Society estimates that 198,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed with approximately 30,000 deaths in 2002. Scientists have been unable to explain the disproportionately high incidences and mortality rates among African American men and the low rates among Asian/Pacific Islanders. Researchers stress the need to explore knowledge, attitudes and screening practices and to use this information to design and implement culturally specific awareness initiatives.

AIMS: 1. Assess African American and Asian/Pacific Islander servicemen's knowledge and attitudes of prostate cancer and early detection measures. 2. Determine if a structured educational intervention increases knowledge and attitudes and influences African American and Asian/Pacific Islander servicemen to pursue prostate cancer screening. 3. Determine if specific demographic characteristics serve as predictors of participation in prostate cancer screening for African American and Asian/Pacific Islanders.

DESIGN AND ANALYSIS: This descriptive/correlational study will use a two-group pretest-posttest pre-experimental design to document the responses of African American and Asian/Pacific Islander servicemen to a prostate cancer educational intervention. Data will be collected at four Army installations affiliated with Tripler Army Medical Center. The theoretical framework is based on Bandura's Theory of Self-Efficacy. Particpants will complete a pretest, participate in an educational program, complete a post-test and then be offered immediate/onsite screening, as well as delayed/off-site screening. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric Mann-Whiteny U test, and exploratory logistic regression methods.

SIGNIFICANCE: This study has significance for military nursing and is consistent with the priorities of the Center for Prostate Disease Resarch and the TriService Nursing Research Program. The opportunity to learn more about the prostate cancer screening behaviors of racial and ethnically diverse groups will assist the Army in developing policies to address health care disparities. A better understanding of barrers to screening among high risk groups could result in specific programs to achieve the goals and objectives of Health People 2010.

Final report is available on NTRL: https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/PB2013105...