PURPOSE

This study is an assessment of racial and ethnic differences in the awareness and use of prostate specific antigen tests.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of the 2000 National Health Interview Survey cancer control supplement. The subsample was 4,717 men 50 years old or older without prior prostate cancer. Outcomes were awareness and use of prostate specific antigen in a lifetime or the last year. Covariates included race/ethnicity, family income, education, age, perceived risk, health insurance and usual source of care. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the effect of race/ethnicity on awareness and use of prostate specific antigen, controlling for covariates. Survey analysis procedures were used to account for the complex survey design.

RESULTS

The association of race/ethnicity and the outcomes of awareness and lifetime prostate specific antigen use persisted when controlling for socioeconomic status, access and other variables. The largest differences were between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white men. Hispanic-American and black men were disadvantaged with respect to education, income and access to care, characteristics associated with lower use and awareness. In alternative models restricted to men aware of prostate specific antigen, neither race/ethnicity nor socioeconomic status was associated with use of prostate specific antigen.

CONCLUSIONS

Race/ethnicity is associated with prostate specific antigen awareness and use. Lack of awareness of the prostate specific antigen test contributes to its lower use by racial/ethnic minorities. Future research should explore factors associated with lower use of the prostate specific antigen test by Hispanic men.