Prostate cancer among African-American males: understanding the current issues.
Prostate cancer affects African-American males within the United States in a disproportionate number compared to White males. African-American males are 1.7 times more likely to develop and 2-3 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than White males. Numerous reasons for this disparity exist, including low socioeconomic status, distrust, conflicting cultural beliefs, and past health-care experiences. Controversies surrounding this topic and perhaps contributing to the disparity include cancer-screening recommendations, cancer-related myths, and potential prevention modalities. Nursing research must focus on cancer-related issues among African-Americans to increase the awareness and knowledge of health-care professionals and the public to help decrease morbidity and mortality within African-Americans and other minority populations, and particularly among more vulnerable sections of at-risk minority populations. This article focuses on current issues related to African-American men and prostate health.
Jones
Randy A
RA
Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. raj9c@virginia.edu
Wenzel
Jennifer
J
D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology