title: Factors influencing the acceptance of transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to improve prostate biopsy compliance by analyzing the factors that influence the acceptance of prostate biopsy by patients to whom transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is recommended for suspected prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects of this study were 268 patients to whom TRUS-guided prostate biopsy was recommended from January to June 2011 and who completed a questionnaire. Patients who showed a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) increase to more than 4.0 ng/mL or abnormal findings on a digital rectal examination and TRUS were recommended to undergo prostate biopsy. The questionnaire consisted of 9 questions about the subjects' demographic characteristics and 15 questions that assessed their knowledge of prostate disease. Fisher exact probability test was conducted to assess the influence of the demographic characteristics and levels of knowledge of prostate disease on acceptance of prostate biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the subjects was 66.2 years (range, 43-83 years). Of the cohort, 188 patients (70.7%) agreed to the prostate biopsy and 78 patients (29.3%) refused. In terms of demographic characteristics, the patients' acceptance of prostate biopsy was associated only with education level. Patients with relatively lower education levels had a higher acceptance rate for prostate biopsy (80.0% vs. 65.9%, p=0.018). Other demographic factors, as well as the degree of knowledge of prostate disease, had no significant effect on the acceptance rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients' acceptance of prostate biopsy can be influenced by demographic characteristics, especially education level. Therefore, when prostate biopsy is recommended to patients, their demographic characteristics should be taken into consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Changhee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: C549870:KLK3 protein, human; D007610:Kallikreins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen
keywords: Compliance; Demography; Prostatic neoplasms