Prostate Cancer Awareness Among Male population in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Ahmed R. AlFarhan; Mohammed AlBarrak; Mohamed G. Soliman; Sayed Ibrahim Ali; Ahmed A. Alhaddad; Ahmed R. Abou–Ramadan

Volume : VI, Issue : III, March - 2017

Prostate Cancer Awareness Among Male population in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Ahmed R. Alfarhan, Mohammed Albarrak, Mohamed G. Soliman, Sayed Ibrahim Ali, Ahmed A. Alhaddad, Ahmed R. Abou Ramadan

Abstract :

Introduction: The general population awareness level of medical information has implication on medical service provided. Lack of knowledge about symptoms, nature of examination and possible complication in patient with prostate diseases will decrease the will and desire of patients to seek medical services. Prostate cancer (PCa), the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, is diagnosed in around 2000 men each day worldwide, and one man is estimated to die from the disease every 2 min. Prostate cancer incidence among Saudi adult men estimated to be 6.6%. Raising the awareness about available screening, interventions and modifications can minimize or reduce cancer cases. Aim: In this study, we put a target to evaluate the level of awareness and knowledge of male population in eastern Saudi Arabia about prostate and prostate cancer. Methodology: Self–administrated questionnaires were made containing questions asking about demographic data and multiple questions that evaluate awareness level about prostate cancer. Questionnaires have distributed amongst a sample of the research population that selected randomly in eastern Saudi Arabia. Result: 1500 male individuals completed the questionnaires with a mean age of 34 years (response rate 100%). 63.9% never visited Urology clinic before. In the last two years, 91.3% didn�t undergo any test for prostate. Only 42.4% know that prostate is not a disease. 38.9% stated that PCa is curable. Actually most of participants� answers for (Yes, No, I don�t know) questions about prostate were I don�t know. Higher education and person who get information from doctors said yes about the question (Does excessive sexual activity protect from prostate cancer?) more than others (P–value < 0.05). Most of our participants got their information from the internet (47.3%). Conclusion: In conclusion, male population in Eastern Saudi Arabia obviously have a very weak idea about prostate cancer and there is a large percentage of them do not even know what prostate is. This lack of knowledge will be associated with increase the prevalence of cancer, in which most of participants didn�t underwent any prostate screening in the last two years.