Bridging Knowledge Gaps in Prostate Cancer Screening Among Northern Saudi Males: Implications for Improving Screening...

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among men worldwide Insufficient awareness and poor attitudes towards PCa adversely impact early detection efforts among men. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and associated factors towards PCa and its screening among northern Saudi males.

Using a validated data collection tool, we surveyed 381 males in this cross-sectional study in the Arar and Aljouf regions of Saudi Arabia. We applied Spearman's test to find the correlation between knowledge and attitude domains. Using the binary logistic regression model, we determined the predictors associated with the knowledge and attitude.

We found that less than half of the males had high levels of knowledge (37.0%) and attitude (47.5%) towards PCa. Knowledge was significantly higher among those working in the private sector (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.63-4.22, p = 0.003) and among those with a family history of PCa (aOR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.75-2.81, p = 0.017). Significantly lower levels of knowledge are observed in people aged above 55 years (aOR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.53-0.91, p = 0.009) and those residing in rural areas (aOR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.27-0.81, p = 0.007). Regarding attitude, we found that smokers (aOR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.27-0.62, p = 0.001) and those living in rural areas (aOR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.44-0.81, p = 0.004) had significantly lower levels.

Suboptimal knowledge and attitudes toward PCa screening highlight the need for targeted public health campaigns, workplace education, and rural outreach programs to improve early detection and reduce the burden of PCa.