Psychological Predictors of Prostate Cancer Screening Behaviors Among Men Over 50 Years of Age in Hamadan: Perceived Threat and Efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide and is the second most lethal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate psychological predictors of prostate cancer screening behaviors among men over 50 years of age in Hamadan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 200 men over 50 years of age in Hamadan, west of Iran. Participants were recruited with a cluster sampling method. The subjects completed a self-administered questionnaire including demographic characteristics, prostate cancer screening behaviors and psychological factors related to prostate cancer. Data was analyzed by SPSS-18 using chi-square, fisher exact test, and logestic regression.

RESULTS: According to the results, 8.5 and 7.5 percent of participants reported history of digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen test, respectively. Also, the subjects reported 18.5%, 49.3% and 50.3% of receivable scores of knowledge, perceived threat, and perceived efficacy of prostate cancer screening behaviors, respectively. There was a significant association between prostate cancer screening behaviors and age groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that providing analytical studies in this field helps to surface the hidden aspects of this context and the health care providers and administrators will hopefully consider them in planning for identification of psychological factors, such as barriers and facilitators factors.