title: The Cuban Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology experience on the beliefs and opinions about digital rectal exam in urological patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the beliefs, knowledge and opinions that influence the practice of digital rectal examination in a group of urological patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study was conducted using convenience sampling and an anonymous questionnaire with 15 questions. The questionnaire was divided in three blocks: socio-demographic variables; delay in going to the urology clinic and taking the rectal examination; evaluation of patients perception of pain and discomfort during digital rectal examination and the impact of discomfort on potential future screening compliance. Percentages were used for the descriptive analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-five surveys were conducted at the Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology of Cuba. The results showed that 70.24% of participants to some extent had information about prostate cancer and 64.29% about prostate specific antigen. Only 27% thought that the digital rectal examination would be helpful, while 66.66% delayed their visit to the urologist in order to avoid the digital rectal examination and 79.76%, to elude the biopsy. It was observed that 52.39% and 36.90% of men complained of moderate and severe pain, respectively. Digital rectal examination was deemed traumatic by 61.9% of the surveyed men. A high number of patients responded they would repeat prostate exam the following year (88.09%) and 94.05% would encourage a friend to have the prostate exam.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than half of the sample claimed to know about prostate cancer and prostate specific antigen; however, they did not consider helpful to undergo digital rectal examination. The main reasons for not assisting to the urologist was to avoid biopsy and the digital rectal examination. Nonetheless, in most patients traumatic digital rectal examination was performed and responders said they would repeat it in the future.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Marcadores Tumorales, Departamento de Estudios Básicos, Instituto de Oncología y Radiobiología, La Habana, Cuba. Address: Instituto de Oncología y Radiobiología, Calle F esquina 29, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana, Cuba. Email: garcfis@infomed.sld.cu.
authors.forename: Isbel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García Figueredo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Marcadores Tumorales, Departamento de Estudios Básicos, Instituto de Oncología y Radiobiología, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Celia María
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pereda-Meira
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Marcadores Tumorales, Departamento de Estudios Básicos, Instituto de Oncología y Radiobiología, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morejón Morales
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Marcadores Tumorales, Departamento de Estudios Básicos, Instituto de Oncología y Radiobiología, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Kerlys
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Correoso Braña
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oncología, Instituto de Oncología y Radiobiología, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Maritza Natalia
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Candia
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Urología, Instituto de Oncología y Radiobiología, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarut Portillo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Marcadores Tumorales, Departamento de Estudios Básicos, Instituto de Oncología y Radiobiología, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Mae
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chappé Pacheco
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003462:Cuba; D051517:Digital Rectal Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen
keywords: beliefs; digital rectal examination; discomfort; pain; prostate cancer; questionnaire