Race/ethnicity, risk perception, and receipt of prostate-specific antigen testing.
BACKGROUND
Men who do not perceive themselves to be at risk of developing and dying from prostate cancer may be less likely to utilize prostate cancer screening. This, coupled with variation among organizations in recommendations about screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA), may contribute to confusion for providers and/or patients making prostate cancer screening decisions.


METHODS
Data on 1075 African American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white male respondents to the 2003 Health Information National Trends Study (HINTS) were analyzed to examine the association among demographic characteristics, perception of the risk of developing prostate cancer, and PSA test utilization among men aged 45 or older.


RESULTS
African American men less frequently, while Hispanic men more frequently, perceived their risk of developing prostate cancer to be higher than the average same-age man compared to non-Hispanic white men. Overall, men who perceived their likelihood of getting prostate cancer as very low to moderate (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.24-0.73) or perceived the likelihood compared to the average same age man as less or about as likely (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27-0.81) were significantly less likely to have received a PSA test in a model adjusted for age, marital status, education, and health insurance coverage.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that all men, but particularly African American and Hispanic men, could benefit from information regarding their specific risk of developing prostate cancer before making a decision about prostate cancer screening.
Shavers
Vickie L
VL
National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, Applied Research Program, Health Service and Economics Branch, 6130 Executive Blvd, MSC-7344, EPN Rm 4005, Bethesda, MD 20892-7344, USA. shaversv@mail.nih.gov
Underwood
Willie
W
Moser
Richard P
RP
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D012306:Risk; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen