SEXUAL FUNCTION BELIEFS AS FACTORS INFLUENCING PROSTATE
CANCER SCREENING AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN
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.
Dependent measures in the study consisted of documented evidence of PSA screening for asymptomatic male patients and physician self-report on regular (annual or biannual) use of PSA screening. Findings of the research revealed that of 496 asymptomatic men, 123 (25 percent) seen in a one-year period had documentation of PSA screening. Sixty (50 percent) of 120 asymptomatic men with documentation of a health maintenance examination had a PSA screening, whereas only 63 (17 percent) of 376...