Knowledge of prostate cancer presentation, etiology, and screening practices among women: a mixed-methods systematic review

Ebenezer Wiafe,Frasia Oosthuizen,Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah,Kofi Boamah Mensah,Varsha Bangalee

doi:10.1186/s13643-021-01695-5

Abstract

BackgroundWith the burden of prostate cancer, it has become imperative to exploit cost-effective ways to tackle this menace. Women have demonstrated their ability to recognize early cancer signs, and it is, therefore, relevant to include women in strategies to improve the early detection of prostate cancer. This systematic review seeks to gather evidence from studies that investigated women’s knowledge about (1) the signs and symptoms, (2) causes and risk factors, and (3) the screening modalities of prostate cancer. Findings from the review will better position women in the fight against the late detection of prostate cancer.MethodsThe convergent segregated approach to the conduct of mixed-methods systematic reviews was employed. Five databases, namely, MEDLINE (EBSCOhost), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), Web of Science, and EMBASE (Ovid), were searched from January 1999 to December 2019 for studies conducted with a focus on the knowledge of women on the signs and symptoms, the causes and risk factors, and the screening modalities of prostate cancer.ResultsOf 2201 titles and abstracts screened, 22 full-text papers were retrieved and reviewed, and 7 were included: 3 quantitative, 1 qualitative, and 3 mixed-methods studies. Both quantitative and qualitative findings indicate that women have moderate knowledge of the signs and symptoms and the causes and risk factors of prostate cancer. However, women recorded poor knowledge about prostate cancer screening modalities or tools.ConclusionsModerate knowledge of women on the signs and symptoms and the causes and risk factors of prostate cancer was associated with education. These findings provide vital information for the prevention and control of prostate cancer and encourage policy-makers to incorporate health promotion and awareness campaigns in health policies to improve knowledge and awareness of prostate cancer globally.Systematic review registrationOpen Science Framework (OSF) registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/BR456

Highlights

With the burden of prostate cancer, it has become imperative to exploit cost-effective ways to tackle this menace
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-skin cancer occurring in men and is accountable for 3.8% of all mortality caused by cancer in men [1, 2]
A detailed citation screening led to an additional study, which increased the total number of studies to 2201

Summary

Introduction

With the burden of prostate cancer, it has become imperative to exploit cost-effective ways to tackle this menace. Women have demonstrated their ability to recognize early cancer signs, and it is, relevant to include women in strategies to improve the early detection of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-skin cancer occurring in men and is accountable for 3.8% of all mortality caused by cancer in men [1, 2]. It further reported that the highest mortality rate is found in the Caribbean and Southern African men worldwide [1, 3]. PCa remains a vital public health concern in both developed and developing countries

Results

Discussion

Conclusion