Motivation for Prostate Screening
Reported December 15, 2008
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Men may have new reason to think twice before complaining about being nagged by a significant other.
There is a strong link between early screening and prostate cancer survival, yet men are less likely to get screened early unless they have a wife or significant other living with them.
In terms of motivating people to get screened, there may be benefit in targeting wives or significant others as well as men, lead study author Lauren P. Wallner, M.P.H., a graduate research associate at the University of Michigan, was quoted as saying.
Researchers looked at 2,447 Caucasian men age 40 to 79. The men answered questions about family history of prostate cancer, concern about getting prostate cancer and marital status. The found men who had a family history of prostate cancer were 50 percent more likely to get screened. Men who were worried about getting prostate cancer were twice as likely to be screened. However, men who lived alone were 40 percent less likely to be screened than those who were married or had a significant other in their home.
Study authors say further research is needed to examine this effect in non-Caucasian populations.
SOURCE: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 2008;17:3588-3592
