Currently, there are numerous scientific studies trying to determine the most appropriate recommendations for prostate cancer screening and treatment. Of equal importance to the scientific perspective is the personal perspective. Prostate cancer is a very personal and sensitive topic for many men and numerous factors influence a man’s decision about screening and treatment. The Department of Health Promotion at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, New Jersey wanted to take a closer look at the personal perspective by studying factors that influence the prostate cancer screening practices of men living in two towns it serves. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out between September and December, 1999. A self-administered survey which examined demographics, medical information, indicators of patient-provider interaction, past prostate cancer screening practices, perceived susceptibility, compliance with other screening tests, benefits, barriers, knowledge, and beliefs was utilized for data collection. A purposive sample of 111 men living in Montclair and Bloomfield, 45 - 75 years old, with no history of prostate cancer participated in the study. The following variables were found to be significantly related to having had a test for prostate cancer screening in the past: health insurance coverage, having a private physician, patient-initiated interaction, provider-initiated interaction, previous cholesterol and glucose screening, knowledge, and the potential benefit of finding cancer early. Despite its limitations, the study provided Mountainside Hospital with some useful information. Most importantly, it highlighted the tremendous influence that healthcare providers have on their patients with regard to screening.
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