title: Religious involvement and prostate cancer screening behaviors among southeastern African American men.
abstract: This study examined the relationship between religious involvement and prostate cancer screening behavior among a probability sample of 199 African American men. Religious involvement was assessed by telephone via a multidimensional instrument. Engaging in religious behaviors was predictive of reporting a digital rectal examination (DRE) within the past year. Religious beliefs and behaviors were predictive of behavioral intention for DRE in the next 6 months. Religious behaviors were predictive of reporting an appointment for a DRE in the next 6 months. All analyses were controlled for age, education, and marital status. None of the predictions were significant for prostate-specific antigen testing. Understanding the role of religious involvement in cancer beliefs and screening is important. Such knowledge can inform educational interventions for this group, which is disproportionately affected by prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-4410, USA. cholt@uab.edu
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Wynn
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Darrington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000407:Alabama; D051517:Digital Rectal Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D029181:Spirituality