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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Stuart M. Belle, MPH1, Susanne B. Montgomery, PhD, MPH1, Virginia Diane Woods, RN, MSN2, and JJ Nortey, MBA1. (1) Health Education & Promotion, Loma Linda University, 10970 Parkland Ave, Loma Linda, CA 92350, (909) 558-8382, sbelle@sph.llu.edu, (2) School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, 10970 Parkland Ave, Loma Linda, CA 92350
Introduction: The incidence of prostate cancer among men in the Unites States is highest among African American men, and the causes of these higher rates of prostate cancer in this population are largely unknown. At all ages, African American men are diagnosed with the disease at later stages and, in California, the 1992-1996 average annual age-adjusted mortality rates for prostate cancer in black men was approximately 50% higher than for white men. Despite early detection, 5-year survival rates remain lower for African American men, even within stages of disease and controlling for socio-economic status and tumor grade. Additional research is needed to identify the relationship between disease risk communication, and the impact of African American men's perspectives on the care they receive and their access to and utilization of primary care. Aim: This study aims to (1) describe the lack of congruence in physicians' and patients' perceived barriers to prostate cancer screening, and how these differences translate into communication patterns and challenges for prostate cancer prevention, and (2) examine the association between patients' perceived quality of care and their current health seeking behaviors. Methods: A triangulated research approach was used to evaluate how primary care providers addressed the issue of prostate cancer prevention with African American male patients, aged 45-74, and how these patients reported understanding their disease risk. Qualitative research methods were used to identify emerging themes around patients' and physicians' knowledge, attitudes, perceived barriers to prostate cancer screening, and perspectives on what constitutes quality health care. The qualitative data was then used to aid in the construction of patient and physician surveys, administered to a longitudinal cohort of 300 African American men and their primary care physicians (N=50).. At 6 months post-enrollment, study participants' medical charts were reviewed to assess patterns in primary health care services utilization and follow-up for prostate cancer screening. Results: African American men are not well informed about their risk of developing prostate cancer. Additionally, inconsistencies in the frequency and quality of disease risk communication between physician and patient is indicative of patients' evaluation of the quality of care they received, and is a significant indicator of primary care follow-up. Conclusion: Understanding patients' thoughts about and desire for open, culturally sensitive, and clear communication about prostate cancer risk and disease prevention can be important for assessing and promoting the effectiveness of available primary health care services that address the needs of African American men.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, members of the audience will be able to
Keywords: Cancer Screening, Health Care Utilization
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.