Effects of Demographics,Health Care Coverage,and Cost on Prostate Screening Compliance.
详细信息
文摘
Prostate cancer was the second leading cause of death among men in the United States in 2012. Research has found that detection through screening can greatly increase men's chances for survival. Despite such evidence,California men 40 years old and older underutilized screening methods in 2010. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of demographics,health care coverage,and cost associated with seeing a doctor on the frequency at which men participated in prostate cancer screenings. The health belief model was used to explain these prostate cancer screening behaviors. This study used a quantitative methodology involving post hoc analysis of 4,884 data sets obtained from a 2010 cross sectional national survey compiled by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Chi-square analysis showed a significant association among the predictors of prostate cancer and prostate cancer screening frequencies. Through logistic regression,the likelihood of men not participating in prostate cancer screening was determined for each independent variable. The most significant findings were that men 40 to 44 years old,of races other than White,Black,Hispanic,or Multiracial,without insurance,and making less than $15,000 per year were least likely to engage in prostate cancer screenings. This research revealed an opportunity for policy makers and administrators in health services to focus more of their preventive efforts towards groups having the lowest propensity for engaging in prostate cancer screening,thereby contributing to positive social change.