Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of women about the importance of prostate cancer screening.
OBJECTIVE
To understand women's knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about prostate cancer.


METHODS
A survey was self-administered to 324 women age >18 years. It contained 42 questions that assessed women's knowledge about prostate cancer, possible risk factors, and opinions regarding screening and early detection. Women were grouped as married or unmarried for convenient comparisons. Chi-squared and F statistics were performed.


RESULTS
Ninety-seven percent of married women reported having some influence over the healthcare decisions of their spouse. Married women's worst fear about their spouse or family member's diagnosis of prostate cancer was death. The most important benefit of prostate cancer screening was the possibility of cure, while the main hindrance was fear of the digital rectal exam. Marital status, age, educational level and income were all significantly associated with women's knowledge about prostate cancer (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Women play an important role in health-related matters in the home. Educating women on prostate cancer may improve early detection efforts and reduce the devastating impact of this disease on their family.
Blanchard
Kristi
K
Department of Urology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Proverbs-Singh
Tracy
T
Katner
Adrienne
A
Lifsey
Deborah
D
Pollard
Steven
S
Rayford
Walter
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education*; D000368:Aged; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000193:education* / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000193:education*; D014930:Women / Q000193:education*