Prostate cancer is defined as cancer that begins in the prostate gland (American Cancer Society, 1995). Meikle and Smith (1990) have reported that available epidemiologic data do not allow targeting of specific populations for prostate cancer screening or early detection programs. The authors also state that although certain strong factors have been identified as associated with the development of prostate cancer (e.g., age, race, location), none sufficiently defines high-risk groups in whom recommendations should differ from those of other age-matched patients.
The American Cancer Society (1995) recommends that men 50 years of age or over, or 40 years of age and over if they are in high risk groups, undergo prostate cancer screening. Prostate cancer screening can be accomplished by either digital rectal exam or by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. As to the frequency with which men actually engage in prostate cancer screening, Williams, Boles and Johnson (1995) attempted to determine this by conducting a study to examine PSA screening in randomly selected primary care practices.
Subjects in the study consisted of a random selection of 552 men who were 50 years of age or greater. These men were selected from 58 randomly selected non-teaching, non-governmental primary care practices in a 43-county area in Virginia. Of interest in the study was determining whether asymptomatic men who undergo routine health maintenance examinations every six months to one year are more likely to have PSA screening tests than men who do not undergo routine health examinations every six months to one year.
Findings of the research revealed that:
(1) Of the 552 subjects, 496 were asymptomatic.
(2) Of these 496 men, 376 did not have routine health maintenance examinations every six months to one year; and, of these 376 men, only 63 (17 percent) had nonetheless had a PSA screening.
(3) Of the males that did receiv...