Prostate Cancer Education in African American Men

This study evaluates the efficacy of a tailored telephone intervention to promote informed decision making about prostate cancer testing among predominantly immigrant black men.

African American and African-Caribbean men have the greatest prostate cancer incidence and mortality rate. Professional organizations provide conflicting recommendations regarding prostate cancer testing but generally agree that men learn about the risks and benefits of testing and share in decisions about testing based on their personal preferences. This study was designed to assess the effects of a decision support intervention on men's knowledge about prostate cancer testing, participation in medical decisions about testing, decision conflict related to testing, and the congruence between prostate cancer testing intentions and behaviors. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants were randomized into one of two conditions: (a) tailored telephone education about prostate cancer testing (intervention group) or (b) tailored telephone education about national guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption (attention control group).

Men in the experimental intervention group received an educational pamphlet on prostate cancer testing as well as tailored telephone education in which the interventionist provided information, answered questions, and conducted a values clarification exercise with the participant.

Men in the attention control group received an educational pamphlet on daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables as well as tailored telephone education in which the interventionist provided information, answered participant's questions, and discussed any barriers to eating fruits and vegetables.

Congruence between men's stated intentions to get tested and their actual testing behavior, validated by medical claims at 1 and 2 year follow-up. Intention-behavior agreement was coded as congruent (1), whereas disagreement was coded as incongruent (0).

12 item knowledge index with questions on testing, risk factors and epidemiology, and treatment effectiveness and side effects. Percent correct was used as the outcome measure.

Used a modified version of the 16 item Decisional Conflict Scale with the 3 level response category suggested for low literacy populations.

Visit with physician to talk about prostate cancer testing, with visit verified through medical claims records

Inclusion Criteria: 45 to 70 year old African descent accessible by telephone have primary care physician Exclusion Criteria: Prostate cancer test in 12 months prior to enrollment History of prostate cancer

Lepore SJ, Wolf RL, Basch CE, Godfrey M, McGinty E, Shmukler C, Ullman R, Thomas N, Weinrich S. Informed decision making about prostate cancer testing in predominantly immigrant black men: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Behav Med. 2012 Dec;44(3):320-30. doi: 10.1007/s12160-012-9392-3.