Barriers to prostate cancer screening: psychological aspects and descriptive variables – is there a correlation?

Figures & data

Table I.  Questions about patient experience.

In relation to what you imagined, how did you find the examination?

Better than you imagined the same worse much worse

Mark the correct alternative(s):

Felt fear of the examination

Felt fear of the diagnosis

Felt shame

Have not thought about anything

Would you consider repeating the examination in the future?

Yes   No  Maybe

Why? _________________________________________________

Did you have any information about the importance of this examination beforehand?

Yes  No

In relation of what you knew about prostate cancer, after the appointment, you fell:

More informed  Less informed

The same as before the appointment

Table II.  In comparison to what you imagined, how did you find of the digital rectal examination?

Answer	N	Percentage (%)
Better	178	52.35
The same	145	42.65
Worse	14	4.12
Much worse	3	0.88
Total	340	100

Table III.  Correlation between scholarship and the question: in comparison to what you imagined, how did you find of the digital rectal examination?

Scholarship	Better	The same	Worse/much worse
Illiterate/elementary school incomplete	22.16	10.18	1.80
Elementary school	6.89	4.79	0.60
High school	12.28	11.38	0.60
College/master degree	11.68	15.87	1.80
Total	52.99%	42.22	4.79

p = 0.0105 (Fisher's test).

Table IV.  Questions about the patients’ level of information.

Did you have any prior information about the importance of the exam?
Answer	N	Percentage (%)
Answer	N	Percentage (%)
Yes	294	85,47
No	50	14,53
Total	344	100
In relation to what you knew about prostate cancer beforehand, after the appointment, did you feel:
Answer	N	Percentage (%)
More informed	278	80,81
Less informed	0	0
The same as before the appointment	66	19,19
Total	344	100

Table V.  Correlation between education and the question: Did you have any prior information about the importance of this exam?

Education	Yes	No
Illiterate/elementary school incomplete	23.67	10.65
Elementary school	11.24	1.18
High school	21.60	2.37
College/master degree	28.70	0.59
Total	85.21%	14.79%

p = 0.0001 (Chi-square).