Race/ethnicity, risk perception, and receipt of prostate-specific antigen testing

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Prostate cancer screening decisions are complex, influenced by perceived risk and varied recommendations for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing.
• Men unaware of their risk may avoid screening, contributing to potential disparities in early detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between perceived risk of prostate cancer and PSA test utilization among diverse male populations.
• To identify demographic factors influencing risk perception and screening behavior.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 1075 African American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white men aged 45+ from the 2003 Health Information National Trends Study (HINTS).
• Examined relationships between demographic characteristics, perceived prostate cancer risk, and PSA test uptake.

Main Results:

• Hispanic men were more likely, and African American men less likely, to perceive a higher risk compared to non-Hispanic white men.
• Men perceiving their prostate cancer risk as low to moderate were significantly less likely to have undergone PSA testing (ORs 0.42-0.47).

Conclusions:

• Tailored risk communication about prostate cancer is crucial for all men, particularly African American and Hispanic men.
• Informing men about their specific risk can aid in making informed decisions regarding PSA screening.