Recorded presentation

Sarah E. Connor, MPH, CHES¹, Sally L. Maliski, PhD, RN¹, Arlene Fink, PhD², and Mark S. Litwin, MD, MPH¹. (1) Urology, University of California, Los Angeles, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Rm. CHS A2-125, Los Angeles, CA 90095, 310-794-6374, sconnor@mednet.ucla.edu, (2) UCLA School of Medicine, 911 Broxton Plz, box 951736, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1736

Information and understanding about prostate cancer is needed so men can effectively manage symptoms, recognize complications, and navigate the health care system. However, prostate cancer patients do not always receive information they believe is needed to effectively manage and cope with their cancer. This lack of prostate cancer information inhibits men from actively participating in their treatment decision-making process. While research has shown that cultural beliefs and practices influence the type and sources of health-related knowledge, there is little research available that addresses ethnicity and information desired and received among low income men with prostate cancer. Researchers sought to: describe knowledge men had when diagnosed with prostate cancer, information they received, information sources they utilized, and knowledge they believed would have been helpful to receive regarding prostate cancer treatment and its side effects; and to explore differences in the expression of information desired that might exist between men of various ethnicities. Researchers conducted 6 ethnicity-specific focus groups in California. Experienced, ethnic-specific moderators facilitated discussion among men diagnosed with prostate cancer about information desired and received regarding prostate cancer. Content analysis was selected to identify and compare themes emerging from each focus group. Grouping of related categories yielded the following thematic areas: Knowledge and Beliefs at Diagnosis, Information Desired, and Information Acquired. Each theme contained different, but related, categories that emerged from the codes. Results highlight disparities in prostate cancer information desired and acquired by men in various ethnic groups after receiving a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe gaps in information desired and acquired by men of varying ethnicities with prostate cancer.
• Articulate how ethnic-specific focus groups can be used to inform the development of culturally sensitive patient education materials.

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.

Recorded presentation