Abstract A7: Ethnic variations in trusted sources of prostate cancer information among American, Jamaican, and Bahamian black men

Abstract Introduction: Prostate cancer is the leading cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. African American (AA) and West Indian men are at greater risk than white and other racial/ethnic social groups in both incidence and mortality related to prostate cancer. AA men also have a greater likelihood of presenting at higher stage and grade with poorer treatment and health outcomes. Little is known about how black men obtain information about prostate cancer and if there is variation in trusted sources of information. The purpose of this study was to explore how black men obtain information about prostate cancer and screening and to identify sociodemographic and other ethnocultural characteristics that are associated with trusted sources of health information regarding prostate cancer. Methods: U.S.-born/American, Jamaican, and the Bahamian black men age 40 or older were asked questions about their trusted sources of health information related to prostate cancer and screening using DRE and PSA. The study used a convenience sample of 448 AA men and 48 Jamaican men residing in the Southeastern U.S. and 55 Bahamian men in the Bahamas. Data were self-reported survey responses and analyzed using SAS. Results: Study participants were likely married (54%), had some college or technical training (78%), and employed (60%). Over 90% of the men reported hearing of the DRE and 77% had heard of the PSA test. The major sources of health information were television news (65%), news/talk radio (54%), print materials (47%), and the Internet (45%). There were no significant ethnic differences in trusted source of health information. Further analysis revealed two information source subfactors: (1) oral (word of mouth)-oriented and (2) print-oriented preferences. Reporting good or excellent health, higher income, and having health insurance were associated with oral (word of mouth) information preferences. Reporting good or excellent health, higher levels of education and income, being employed, married, AA ethnicity, nonveteran status, and having had a recent health checkup and having heard of the PSA test and DRE were associated with print-oriented information preferences. In addition, printed sources of information were associated with awareness of DRE and PSA, but not recent screening. Conclusions: Blacks in the U.S. and Caribbean bear a greater burden of prostate cancer among men. Therefore it is important to understand what information sources are trusted and preferred within diverse cultures along with ethnocultural factors that may influence health information preferences. Future studies are needed to further explore the relationship between black men's information preferences and their prostate cancer-related outcomes. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):A7.