Prostate cancer screening: knowledge, experiences and attitudes of men aged 40-79 years.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, experiences and attitudes of men aged 40-79 years regarding screening for prostate cancer.


METHODS
This study was a cross-sectional telephone survey of men aged 40-79 years whose names were randomly selected from the Auckland telephone directory. The study was undertaken in the summers of 2000/2001 and 2001/2002.


RESULTS
The response rate was 77% (120/156). Of the men surveyed, 81% (91/113) stated that it was necessary to test for prostate cancer in men without concerns or symptoms. The majority were not aware of complications of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Misconceptions surround prostate cancer screening. We recommend that doctors inform their patients that prostate cancer screening is controversial, and that the effectiveness of treatment for screen-detected prostate cancer is unknown. Individual patients would then be an improved position to decide about participation in screening.
Arroll
Bruce
B
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. b.arroll@auckland.ac.nz
Pandit
Salil
S
Buetow
Stephen
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*