Promoting informed decision making: evaluating a community-based prostate health awareness program.
BACKGROUND
For health educators, the controversy surrounding routine prostate cancer screening provides curriculum development and delivery challenges. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a community-based prostate health awareness program.


METHODS
Using a pretest-posttest design, participants were recruited from community-based organizations to assess the effectiveness of the program in the areas of knowledge gain, short-term intentions, and changing prostate health behaviors.


RESULTS
Many of the participants reported having been tested for prostate cancer, yet there was a lower than expected pretest knowledge base. There were significant increases in knowledge on the posttest and some impact on short-term intentions and behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
A community-based prostate health awareness program prior to the patient-physician encounter can assist health-care professionals in the education process and give men the tools to make an informed decision.
Bridge
Patrick D
PD
Department of Family Practice, Wayne State University, 101 East Alexandrine, 2nd Floor, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. pbridge@med.wayne.edu
Berry-Bobovski
Lisa C
LC
Gallagher
Richard E
RE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D003657:Decision Making; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*