Abstract A56: Physician consultations, prostate cancer knowledge, and PSA screening in African American men: Are the conversations effective?

Abstract

Abstract African American (AA) men are more likely to develop and die from prostate cancer (PCa) yet less likely to receive information about screening from physicians. Although guidelines espouse shared decision-making regarding PCa screening and PSA testing, studies reveal lack of consistency. Several studies demonstrate that PCa knowledge strongly influences informed decisions, and that engaging interactions are especially important for AA men who are more likely to progress from early stage to aggressive end-stage PCa at an earlier age and faster rate than other populations. This study evaluated the frequency of physician-patient conversations among AA men and whether this translated into increased PCa knowledge and PSA testing. In this study, self-identified Black men ages 21-85 donated blood and completed a health survey (n=414) via Project C.H.A.N.G.E. (Changing Health in Adult Men with New and Great Experiences), a transdisciplinary cross-sectional study conducted at Loma Linda University. PCa knowledge following physician conversations in light of socio-economic and health care variables was evaluated using univariate, bivariate, and multiple regression analyses. PSA values were measured with ELISA. Our results revealed that 52.7% of participants had never discussed the pros and cons of PCa screening with their physicians. The likelihood of physician-patient conversations increased with age (p.001), and health insurance positively predicted these discussions (p.001). Multiple regression analysis indicated ethnicity and high school education as predictors of improved PCa knowledge (p.001). We found that 38.5% of men who had discussed PCa screening with a physician and 28.5% who had not discussed PCa screening had PSA values that could be considered high-risk for PCa diagnosis. These findings expose a remaining deficiency in physician compliance regarding national guidelines for shared decision-making conversations with high-risk men. This is problematic as a large group of AA men at evident risk for PCa have not ever discussed this disease with their physicians and may be harboring undetected PCa. Encouraging more effective interactions between AA men and their physicians concerning PCa screening and PSA testing has the potential to reduce PCa health disparities. Citation Format: Leanne Woods-Burnham, Laura Stiel, Colwick Wilson, Susanne Montgomery, Carlos A. Casiano. Physician consultations, prostate cancer knowledge, and PSA screening in African American men: Are the conversations effective? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A56.