Knowledge and attitudes of men about prostate cancer

To ascertain the current level of understanding among older men about prostate cancer, including treatment options and their potential side effects.

Questionnaires administered by general practitioners in five general practices in the Perth metropolitan and regional areas of Western Australia.

Convenience sample of 503 men aged 40-80 years, with or without prostate cancer, presenting for routine consultations between January and August 2006.

Knowledge and attitudes of men about prostate cancer, and predictors of knowledge.

Eighty per cent of men did not know the function of the prostate, and 48% failed to identify prostate cancer as the most common internal cancer in men. Thirty-five per cent had no knowledge of the treatments for prostate cancer and 53% had no knowledge of the side effects of treatments. Asked how they would arrive at a decision about treatment, 70% said they would ask the GP or specialist for information on all their options and then decide themselves.

There is a deficit in knowledge about prostate cancer among men in the at-risk age group, encompassing areas that could delay diagnosis and treatment. Overall, the men preferred some GP or specialist involvement in treatment decision making.