title: Prostate cancer detection by using digital rectal examination: contemporary practice patterns in the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Digital rectal examination (DRE) may play an important role as a secondary method of prostate cancer detection if prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening decreases. Current practice patterns in the use of DRE are not well defined, and potential variations in its use among different subgroups of men are unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was examined for the year 2010. All men aged 40 years old or older were asked if they ever had a rectal examination to check their prostate and the date of their last examination. Men who reported having had a DRE within the past 12 months were considered up to date. The proportion of men who reported having had a DRE and independent demographic and socioeconomic predictors for having had a DRE were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 110,661 respondents were included: 72.2% of respondents reported ever having had a DRE; 36.8% had had a DRE within the past year, and 49.7% within the past 2 years. On multivariate analysis for reporting having an up-to-date DRE, older men, those with higher body mass index, and those of black race were more likely to have an up-to-date DRE. Asian or Hispanic race, divorced or widowed marital status, lower education, lower income, and lack of health insurance were independently associated with being less likely to have an up-to-date DRE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of American men, 36.8% reported having an up-to-date DRE within the past year and 49.7% of men within the past 2 years. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics were strongly associated with the likelihood of having an up-to-date DRE.
authors: Division of Urology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA.
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Tourville
authors: Mike M
authors: MM
authors: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003710:Demography; D051517:Digital Rectal Examination / Q000379:methods*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen
keywords: Behavioral risk factor surveillance system; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Early detection of cancer; Physician practice patterns; Screening