Volume 5, Issue 2 (Spring 2019)                   JCCNC 2019, 5(2): 87-96 | Back to browse issues page


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Abasi B, Farahaninia M, Hasanpoor S B, Haghani H. Health Literacy and Men’s Attitudes and Practices Toward Prostate Cancer Screening. JCCNC 2019; 5 (2) :87-96
URL: http://jccnc.iums.ac.ir/article-1-178-en.html
1- Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , mary_f2008@yahoo.ca
3- Nursing Care Research Center, Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Nursing Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:   (2499 Views)
Background: Health literacy, as a vital indicator of healthcare costs, plays an important role in facilitating effective health communication strategies. Screening is one of these strategies; thus, intervention and management can be provided ahead of schedule. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between health literacy and men’s practices and attitude toward prostate cancer screening.
Methods: This was a descriptive correlational study. The sample consisted of 300 men aged over 40 years, living in the western area of Tehran City, Iran. The samples were recruited by convenience sampling method in the public places of the city. The required data were collected by Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA), and Prostate Cancer Screening questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS. 
Results: The obtained results suggested that the Mean±SD score of health literacy score was at an adequate level 84.61±5.95; 82.7% had a positive attitude, and 70.3% failed to undergo prostate cancer screening. Health literacy was positively correlated with attitude and practice (P<0.001). Moreover, marital status (standard coefficient =-0.709) had the strongest association with health literacy. Additionally, occupational status (employed) (standard coefficient =0.551) and unemployed (standard coefficient =0.556) had the highest association with attitude. Eventually, marital status had the strongest relationship with practice (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Despite adequate health literacy and positive attitudes of men toward prostate cancer screening, their screening performance was poor. According to the obtained results, proper training of healthcare providers along with suitable training programs by national media, is required. The development of simple and understandable health education programs for prostate cancer screening is also recommended. 
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● Prostate cancer is the second common cancer and the second fatal cancer.
● High prevalence of prostate cancer in middle-aged and old men is unique among other cancers.
● Many undesirable health consequences result from insufficient health literacy.
● Those with lower health literacy are less familiar with health concepts which limits their understanding about the necessity of cancer screening and its advantages.
● Since local cancer can be completely treated, screening in asymptomatic men plays an important role in its early diagnosis and consequently reducing their mortality.
Plain Language Summary 
 Annually, more than 670,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Long-term side-effects of treatment remain very undesirable effects on the patients' quality of life .The most simple, reliable and inexpensive method for those exposed to risk of diseases is diseases is adopting preventive behaviors. This study discusses, relationship between health literacy with attitude and practice of men toward prostate cancer screening in west of Tehran. Based on the results, health literacy has a positive effect on the attitude and performance of men regarding prostate cancer screening. Accordingly promoting health literacy may lead to a positive attitude toward prostate cancer screening and improve men’s practice. 

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2018/11/3 | Accepted: 2019/03/10 | Published: 2019/05/1

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