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Communication message strategies for increasing knowledge about prostate cancer screening

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Abstract

Background. This community-based intervention study examined the effects of 2 different message strategies for presenting information about the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. Methods. A quasi-experimental longitudinal design with 2 intervention and 1 control group. Results. Knowledge increased significantly among participants who received either version of the intervention message and remained elevated at 12 months. Presenting information in the context of other men’s health issues was associated with greater increases in knowledge relative to PSA only. Conclusions. Community-based interventions can increase knowledge about prostate cancer screening. Clinicians need to take careful account of what their patients understand and correct misperceptions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, 27709, Research Triangle Park, NC

    Lauren A. McCormack PhD, MSPH, Carla M. Bann PhD, Pamela Williams-Piehota PhD, David Driscoll PhD, Cindy Soloe MPH, Jon Poehlman PhD, Tzy -Mey Kuo PhD & Kathleen N. Lohr PhD

  2. Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

    Stacey L. Sheridan MD, Carol E. Golin MD & Russell Harris MD

  3. Internal Medicine Program, Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro, NC

    Samuel Cykert MD

Authors
  1. Lauren A. McCormack PhD, MSPH
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  2. Carla M. Bann PhD
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  3. Pamela Williams-Piehota PhD
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  4. David Driscoll PhD
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  5. Cindy Soloe MPH
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  6. Jon Poehlman PhD
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  7. Tzy -Mey Kuo PhD
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  8. Kathleen N. Lohr PhD
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  9. Stacey L. Sheridan MD
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  10. Carol E. Golin MD
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  11. Russell Harris MD
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  12. Samuel Cykert MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lauren A. McCormack PhD, MSPH.

Additional information

RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.

This publication was made possible through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR) Cooperative Agreement, No. U50/ CCU300860, Project TS-0845. The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research.

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McCormack, L.A., Bann, C.M., Williams-Piehota, P. et al. Communication message strategies for increasing knowledge about prostate cancer screening. J Canc Educ 24, 238–243 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1080/08858190902935498

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08858190902935498

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