Prostate cancer screening: Knowledge, attitudes and practices in a sample of men in Italy. A survey

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards prostate cancer and its prevention. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of 625 fathers of students attending eight public schools. The self-administered questionnaire included questions on: socio-demographic characteristics, personal and familiar medical history of prostate cancer, knowledge about prostate cancer and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, perception of risk towards prostate cancer, perception of the benefits of having a PSA-test, willingness to receive the PSA-test and sources of and needs of information regarding prostate cancer and the PSA-test. RESULTS: 72.7% of respondents had heard about the PSA-test and 51.1% of those had heard about it through their physicians. This knowledge was higher: in men with older age, in those that had a higher level of education, in those who had a relative with prostrate problems or prostate cancer and in those with prostate problems. Perceived personal risk of contracting prostate cancer was associated with a higher level of education, in those who had received information about prostate cancer from a physician and in those with prostate problems. Only 29.6% of men had undergone a PSA-test and 59.4% were willing to do so in the future. The significant predictors of the willingness to receive a PSA-test were the belief that the PSA-test was useful, the perception of not very good personal health status, and need of additional information about the PSA-test. CONCLUSION: Respondents have a moderate knowledge about prostate cancer and a good propensity to undergo the PSA-test. Therefore, it would be necessary to increase information on the risks of prostate cancer and the benefits of prostate cancer prevention.