Prostate cancer: how aware is the public?

To assess the public awareness of prostate cancer and willingness to seek medical attention for urinary symptoms, and to determine associated factors.

A community survey was conducted using a questionnaire administered by the interviewer to 280 randomly selected Irish men aged 40-69 years.

A quarter of the men had not heard of prostate cancer; factors associated with having heard were nonmanual social class, living with a female partner and a history of treatment for urinary disease. Eighty per cent said they would be willing to attend a GP if they had urinary symptoms; associated factors were living with a female partner, having heard of prostate cancer and having seen a GP more than once in the preceding year. Just over half deemed attendance to be urgent/important; associated factors were having heard of prostate cancer, living with a female partner and having a relative with cancer. Having a General Medical Services card (a means-tested medical card entitling the holder to free medical services) was negatively associated. Lower social class was negatively associated with routine questioning by a GP about urinary symptoms.

There is a marked social-class gradient in knowledge and willingness to seek medical advice. In the absence of population screening, earlier clinical presentation with prostate cancer is essential if prognosis is to be improved; there is an evident need to improve prostate cancer awareness, particularly in the lower social classes, if this goal is to be achieved.