Perceived benefits: a predictor of participation in prostate cancer screening

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed major cancer and the second cause of cancer-related deaths among men. With early detection through screening and timely treatment, 9 out of 10 men will survive a minimum of 5 years. However, with late diagnoses, only 3 out of 10 men will have a 5-year minimum survival rate. Guided by a conceptual map, this correlational research examined perceived benefits as a predictor of participation in free prostate cancer screening. Perceived benefits are the personal belief and valuing of screening for early detection of prostate cancer. All subjects received one of four educational interventions: traditional, peer educator, client navigator, or combination. Participation in prostate cancer screening was measured by compliance with the American Cancer Society's Guidelines, which included a digital rectal exam (DRE) and/or a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The purposive sample (n = 1,522) of men, ages 40 to 70 years, was recruited from randomly selected churches, barbershops, industries, housing projects, and car dealerships in a southeastern state. Seventy-two percent of the sample was African American. Predictors of participation in free prostate cancer screening were these: perceived benefits, being white, having at least a high school education, being married, and receiving the client navigator or combination educational intervention. The Benefits Scale was significant (p = 0.013, odds ratio (OR) = 1.059) as a predictor for participation in screening when all demographic variables and educational interventions were controlled. Practice implications for nursing are discussed and recommendations for future research are presented.