Informed consent for cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen: how well are men getting the message?
OBJECTIVE
This study examined knowledge about prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening among African Americans and Whites. Because PSA screening for prostate cancer is controversial, professional organizations recommend informed consent for screening.


METHODS
Men (n = 304) attending outpatient clinics were surveyed for their knowledge about and experience with screening.


RESULTS
Most men did not know the key facts about screening with PSA. African Americans appeared less knowledgeable than Whites, but these differences were mediated by differences in educational level and experience with prostate cancer screening.


CONCLUSIONS
Public health efforts to improve informed consent for prostate cancer screening should focus on highlighting the key facts and developing different approaches for men at different levels of formal education and prior experience with screening.
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, 1.122 MSB, Houston, TX 77030, USA. evelyn.c.chan@uth.tmc.edu
Evelyn C Y
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Chan
Sally W
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Vernon
Frederick T
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O'Donnell
Chul
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Anthony
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Greisinger
Donnie W
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D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen