Eyad M. Alhelih, Danny M. Rabah, Mostafa A. Arafa
This exploratory study examined factors and decisio nal balance (DB) that influence participation in prostate cancer (PCa) screening in Saudi Arabia. Th e secondary purpose of the study is to develop the groundwork for future interventions to support at-r isk men, to develop the health habit of getting a yearly prostate specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE). The sample consisted of 500 Saudi men who resided in Riyadh area. Men compl eted two surveys and demographic data was also collected. The selected factors are demographi c (age, race, marital status), structural (insuranc e coverage) and behavioral (screening history). No si gnificant relationships were found for the factors and outcome for PSA, or DRE intent to screen. Furth er analysis utilizing Point Biserial Correlations fo r DB, factors and intent to screen with the PSA shows a result of a significant negative association between race and DB. A significant positive associa tion was found for DB and having insurance and for DB and having had a previous PSA. For DB, factors a nd DRE intent resulted in a significant positive association with having insurance coverage and havi ng had a previous DRE screening.In terms of research implications, Saudi health care providers should focus on the recruitment of men, in prostate cancer awareness and screening. Other roles in rese arch is the development of reliable and valid assessment survey questions to measure patient know ledge, attitudes and cultural beliefs that can identify variations in individuals' decision making processes and benefits/risk perception.Implication s for the clinical setting include PCa educational in terventions as well as continuing to establish relationships outside of the clinical setting to co ordinate community health efforts to provide men wi th resources to obtain culturally relevant information on the latest PCa developments.
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