Behavior, Social Factors Should Be Considered in Addressing Black Men’s Prostate Cancer Screening Rates, Study Finds
"Personal Factors Affecting African-American Men's Prostate Cancer Screening Behavior" (.pdf), Journal of the National Medical Association: The study seeks to identify the personal factors that affect black men's decisions to undergo prostate cancer screenings. Black men have the highest prostate cancer rate of any other racial or ethnic group. For the study, researchers from Florida A & M University collected data from two mail surveys of black men ages 40 and older. Researchers found that the "key determinants of intention to undergo prostate cancer screening were attitude, perceived behavioral control, past behavior and perceived susceptibility," and attitude was the primary determinant. The study concluded that such factors should be considered in improving prostate cancer detection and screening among black men (Odendina et al., JNMA, June 2008). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
