Classifying the reasons men consider to be important in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing decisions: Evaluating risks, lay beliefs, and informed decisions - Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite uncertainty regarding the benefits of prostate cancer screening, many men have had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

PURPOSE: This study aims to identify classes of reasons guiding men's decisions about prostate cancer screening and predict reasoning approaches by family history and prior screening behaviour.

METHODS: First-degree relatives of men with prostate cancer (nā€‰=ā€‰207) and men from the general population (nā€‰=ā€‰239) of Australia listed reasons they considered when deciding whether to have a PSA test.

RESULTS: Responses were coded into 31 distinct categories. Latent class analysis identified three classes. The evaluation of risk information cues class (20.9 %) contained a greater number of men with a family history (compared with control and overcome cancer/risk class; 52.7 %). Informed decisions and health system class (26.5 %) included a lower proportion of men who had had a PSA test and greater proportions of highly educated and married men.

CONCLUSION: Understanding the reasons underlying men's screening decisions may lead to a more effective information provision and decision support.

Written by:
McDowell ME, Occhipinti S, Chambers SK.   Are you the author?
Griffith Health Institute, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, QLD, 4111, Australia.

Reference: Ann Behav Med. 2013 May 8. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1007/s12160-013-9508-4


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23653418

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