Abstract

ARBELAEZ R, Juan D.  and  MONTEALEGRE H, Nora A.. Knowledge, attitudes and practices about the exams applied in the early prostate cancer screening among men in two suburbs in Medellín. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.3, pp.300-309. ISSN 0120-386X.

OBJECTIVE: to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with the exams used for early prostate cancer screening among men living in two suburbs in Medellín. METHODOLOGY: a cross-sectional study conducted using a stratified probability sampling and a guided survey with 38 questions. Percentages were used for the descriptive analysis. Likewise, the prevalence ratio and the confidence interval at 95% with a significance value of p < 0.05 were calculated in the bivariate analysis. RESULTS: eighty-three surveys were conducted in 14 life clubs (social organizations of elderly people) in suburbs 2 and 4 of Medellín. The results showed that 68.7% of participants had adequate knowledge, 43.4% an appropriate attitude, and 38.6% adequate practices. It was observed that men with the adequate knowledge were10.9 times (IC 95% = 1.4-2.7) likely to also have an adequate attitude compared to those with inadequate knowledge. Similarly, men with adequate attitude were 0.8 times (IC 95% = 1.2-2.7) more likely to also have adequate practices compared to men with an inadequate attitude. DISCUSSION: It is necessary to strengthen the interventions aiming to prevent prostate cancer among the poorest and most vulnerable men, since they are less likely to have adequate knowledge, attitude, and practices.

Keywords : health knowledge; attitude; practice; prostatic neoplasms; digital rectal examination; prostate specific antigen.

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