This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kunkel, E. J. S. Articles by Myers, R. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kunkel, E. J. S. Articles by Myers, R. E.

Behaviors Used by Men to Protect Themselves against Prostate Cancer

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, ² Biostatistics Section, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, and ³ Behavioral Epidemiology Section, Division of Genetic and Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and ⁴ College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Hahnemann Campus, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This paper reports on behaviors men use to protect themselves against prostate cancer. Data were collected via a telephone or mailed survey from 353 men enrolled in two studies of prostate cancer screening. Respondents reported behaviors they used to protect themselves against prostate cancer, and responses were coded as conventional care, self-care, or nothing. Men who reported using both conventional care and self-care were categorized as conventional care users. Polytomous logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the association between sociodemographic background, prior prostate screening, and cognitive, affective, and social support and influence factors with protective behavior type.

The distribution of protective behaviors was as follows: conventional care, 63%; self-care only, 19%; and nothing, 18%. In multivariable analyses, higher education level was found to be positively associated with conventional care use. Perceived salience and coherence of prostate cancer screening was positively associated with conventional care use among men in one of the two studies. Low concern about screening was positively associated with self-care use, as was mailed survey completion.

This study presents self-report data regarding prostate cancer protection behaviors. Most men in the study reported using some type of prostate cancer protective behavior. Decision-making about whether or not to take protective action and what type of behavior to use may be influenced by socioeconomic background, cognitive perceptions related to behavioral options, and concern about risk.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. S. Consedine, D. Horton, T. Ungar, A. K. Joe, P. Ramirez, and L. Borrell Fear, Knowledge, and Efficacy Beliefs Differentially Predict the Frequency of Digital Rectal Examination Versus Prostate Specific Antigen Screening in Ethnically Diverse Samples of Older Men American Journal of Men's Health, March 1, 2007; 1(1): 29 - 43. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. S. Consedine, A. H. Morgenstern, E. Kudadjie-Gyamfi, C. Magai, and A. I. Neugut Prostate cancer screening behavior in men from seven ethnic groups: the fear factor. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., February 1, 2006; 15(2): 228 - 237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]