Abstract
The purposes of this study are to explore cancer information acquisition patterns among African–American men and to evaluate relationships between information acquisition patterns and prostate cancer prevention and control knowledge. A random sample of 268 men participated in a statewide interviewer-administered, telephone survey. Men classified as non-seekers, non-medical source seekers, and medical source seekers of prostate cancer information differed on household income, level of education, and beliefs about personal risk for developing prostate cancer. Results from multiple regression analysis indicated that age, education, and information-seeking status were associated with overall levels of prostate cancer knowledge. Results from logistic regression analyses indicated that men who included physicians as one of many information resources (medical source seekers) had superior knowledge over non-seekers and non-medical source seekers on 33% of individual knowledge details. The findings emphasize the need to connect lower-income and lower-educated African–American men to physicians as a source of prostate cancer control information.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brooks DD, Wolf A, Smith RA, Dash C, Guessous I (2010) Prostate cancer screening 2010: updated recommendations from the American Cancer Society. J Natl Med Assoc 102:423–429
Sciarra A, Cattarino S, Gentilucci A, Salciccia S, Alfarone A, Mariotti G et al (2010) Update on screening in prostate cancer based on recent clinical trials. Rev Recent Clin Trials 6:7–15
Briss P, Rimer B, Reilley B, Coates RC, Lee NC, Mullen P et al (2004) Promoting informed decisions about cancer screening in communities and healthcare systems. Am J Prev Med 26:67–80
Rimer BK, Briss PA, Zeller PK, Chan EC, Woolf SH (2004) Informed decision making: what is its role in cancer screening? Cancer 101:1214–1228
Jemal A, Siegel R, Xu J, Ward E (2010) Cancer statistics, 2010. CA Cancer J Clin 60:277–300
Wilson TD (2000) Human information behavior. Inform Sc 3:49–56
Longo DR (2005) Understanding health information, communication, and information seeking of patients and consumers: a comprehensive and integrated model. Health Expect 8:189–194
Johnson JD, Donohue WA, Atkin CK, Johnson S (1994) Differences between formal and informal communication channels. J Bus Comm 31:111–122
Johnson JD, Johnson DJ (1997) Cancer-related information seeking. Hampton Press, Cresskill
Meissner HI, Potosky AL, Convissor R (1992) How sources of health information relate to knowledge and use of cancer screening exams. J Community Health 17:153–165
Johnson JD, Meischke H (1991) Cancer information: women's source and content preferences. J Health Care Mark 11:37–44
Squiers L, Finney Rutten L, Treiman K, Bright MA, Hesse B (2005) Cancer patients' information needs across the cancer care continuum: evidence from the cancer information service. J Health Commun 10:15–34
Roach AR, Lykins EL, Gochett CG, Brechting EH, Graue LO, Andrykowski MA (2009) Differences in cancer information-seeking behavior, preferences, and awareness between cancer survivors and healthy controls: a national, population-based survey. J Cancer Educ 24:73–79
Ross L, Kohler CL, Grimley DM, Anderson-Lewis C (2007) The theory of reasoned action and intention to seek cancer information. Am J Health Behav 31:123–134
O'Dell KJ, Volk RJ, Cass AR, Spann SJ (1999) Screening for prostate cancer with the prostate-specific antigen test: are patients making informed decisions? J Fam Pract 48:682–688
Cormier L, Kwan L, Reid K, Litwin MS (2002) Knowledge and beliefs among brothers and sons of men with prostate cancer. Urology 59:895–900
Chan EC, Vernon SW, O'Donnell FT, Ahn C, Greisinger A, Aga DW (2003) Informed consent for cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen: how well are men getting the message? Am J Public Health 93:779–785
Schröder FH, Hugosson J, Roobol MJ, Tammela TLJ, Ciatto S, Nelen V et al (2009) Screening and prostate-cancer mortality in a randomized European study. N Engl J Med 360:1320–1328
Andriole GL, Grubb RL III, Buys SS, Chia D, Church TR, Fouad MN et al (2009) Mortality results from a randomized prostate-cancer screening trial. N Engl J Med 360:1310–1319
Finney Rutten LJ, Squiers L, Hesse B (2007) Cancer-related information sought by the general public: evidence from the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service, 2002–2003. J Cancer Educ 22:91–98
Thompson VL, Cavazos-Rehg P, Tate KY, Gaier A (2008) Cancer information seeking among African Americans. J Cancer Educ 23:92–101
Hesse BW, Nelson DE, Kreps GL, Croyle RT, Arora NK, Rimer BK et al (2005) Trust and sources of health information: the impact of the Internet and its implications for health care providers: findings from the first Health Information National Trends Survey. Arch Intern Med 165:2618–2624
Fraser M, Brown H, Homel P, Macchia RJ, LaRosa J, Clare R et al (2009) Barbers as lay health advocates: developing a prostate cancer curriculum. J Natl Med Assoc 101:690–697
Hart A, Underwood SM, Smith WR, Bowen DJ, Rivers BM, Jones RA et al (2008) Recruiting African-American barbershops for prostate cancer education. J Natl Med Assoc 100:1012–1020
Luque JS, Rivers BM, Gwede CK, Kambon M, Lee Green B, Meade CD (2011) Barbershop communications on prostate cancer screening using barber health advisers. Am J Mens Health 5:129–139
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by a developmental grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) through the Deep South Network for Cancer Control (1U01CA086128).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ross, L., Dark, T., Orom, H. et al. Patterns of Information Behavior and Prostate Cancer Knowledge Among African–American Men. J Canc Educ 26, 708–716 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-011-0241-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-011-0241-z