Public awareness of prostate cancer and the prostate-specific antigen test

Prostate cancer and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing have been the focus of significant media attention. This study examines the public's knowledge of prostate cancer, knowledge of the PSA test, and among men, the use of the test. The data are from the 1993 Kentucky Health Survey, an annual probability-based statewide telephone survey of adult (18 years of age and older) Kentucky residents (n = 661). Although 92% of the sample reported hearing of prostate cancer, the respondents were basically uninformed about the outcomes of prostate cancer. Men 50 years of age and older were no more informed than was the rest of the sample about prostate cancer or PSA testing. However, 94% of the men who had the test recommended by their physician had undergone the test. These findings indicate that adults remain poorly informed about prostate cancer and possible case-finding strategies. If the American Cancer Society's (ACS) early detection recommendations are to succeed, attention should focus on improving the public's awareness of currently available methods for early detection of prostate cancer.