Saving the prostate: Predictive factors for participation in prostate cancer screening among older men inTrinidad and Tobago

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study explored factors hypothesized to beassociated to participation in prostate cancer screeningamong older Trinidadian adults.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study wasconducted using data collected from self-administeredquestionnaires from adult males aged 40 years and older inthe country of Trinidad. Participant characteristics andparticipation rates in prostate cancer screening weredescribed using means and frequencies. Principal componentanalysis was used to identify dietary patterns.Multi-variable logistic regression models were used toinvestigate the association between sociodemographic,lifestyle, prostate cancer knowledge and health beliefmodel (HBM) characteristics with prostate cancerscreening participation.RESULTS:Atotal of 260 adult males with a mean age of 51.6± 8.15 years were included for all analysis. Approximately50% of participants were screened for prostate cancerwithin the past five years with the majority (73%) optingfor the prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Significantpredictors (p < 0.05) for being screened for prostate cancerwere sociodemographic (age, being married and a monthlyincome of > TT $10 000), being obese, having a familyhistory of cancer and higher health belief scores. Higherwesternized dietary pattern scores and last medicalexamination > 12 months were significant predictors for ahigher likelihood of not being screened for prostate cancer.CONCLUSION: Governmental agencies and health professionalsshould focus on the modifiable factors related tolifestyle and the HBM to encourage older adults to bescreened for prostate cancer. There is a definite need fortargeted intervention programmes addressing barriers andbenefits of prostate cancer screening and health motivationin Trinidad and Tobago.