Prostate cancer educational intervention among men in Western Jamaica

OBJECTIVE To conduct and evaluate the impact of a theory-based health education intervention on awareness of prostate cancer and intention to screen among men in Western Jamaica and determine screening rates of men participating in the intervention at 6 months post-intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS 454 men utilizing various clinics and hospitals in Western Jamaica completed an interviewer-administered pretest survey on general prostate cancer knowledge and intention to screen. Upon completing the pretest, participants observed a prostate cancer health education intervention and immediately completed a posttest survey. RESULTS Statistically significant improvements in the percentage of correct responses between the pretest and posttest were evident. (p < 0.05). Additionally, screening rates increased dramatically by 6 months post-intervention with over 33% of men receiving a prostate exam after participating the in the educational intervention. CONCLUSION The theory-based educational intervention increased participants' knowledge of prostate cancer, types of screening tests, frequency of screenings and risk factors and symptoms, and was effective in increasing screening rates among the men in Western Jamaica within 6 months post- intervention. This theory-based educational intervention may be replicated to promote awareness of prostate cancer and further increase screening rates in other areas of Jamaica and other developing countries.