Factors influencing prostate cancer screening in low-income African Americans in Tennessee.
This study examined demographic and lifestyle factors that influenced decisions to get screened for prostate cancer in low-income African Americans in three urban Tennessee cities. It also examined obstacles to getting screened. As part of the Meharry Community Networks Program (CNP) needs assessment, a 123-item community survey was administered to assess demographic characteristics, health care access and utilization, and screening practices for various cancers in low-income African Americans. For this study, only African American men 45 years and older (n=293) were selected from the Meharry CNP community survey database. Participants from Nashville, those who were older, obese, and who had health insurance were more likely to have been screened (p<.05). Additionally, there were associations between obstacles to screening (such as cost and transportation) and geographic region (p<.05). Educational interventions aimed at improving prostate cancer knowledge and screening rates should incorporate information about obstacles to and predictors of screening.
Patel
Kushal
K
Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA. kpatel@mmc.edu
Kenerson
Donna
D
Wang
Hong
H
Brown
Byron
B
Pinkerton
Helen
H
Burress
Marilyn
M
Cooper
Leslie
L
Canto
Marie
M
Ukoli
Flora
F
Hargreaves
Margaret
M
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D003153:Community Health Services; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013714:Tennessee; D014504:Urban Health