KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND BELIEF OF PROSTATE BIOPSY AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING UROLOGY CLINICS IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL, IBADAN

Abstract

Low participation among male population of 40 years old or more in Nigeria, who are at risk of prostate cancer, in prostate cancer screening, remains a significant burden, despite many research findings showing the importance of screening in preventing incidence and deaths from prostate cancer. However, a screening program cannot be successful unless the screening and diagnostic procedures are well understood and accepted by the targeted population. Therefore, understanding the influence of knowledge, attitude, belief and lifestyle of Nigerian men towards prostate biopsy is critical to provide intervention to this public health concern. This study was designed to investigate knowledge, attitude, belief and lifestyle of prostate biopsy among the participants as well as to generate information that can be used to develop strategies to improve the quality of care for the patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study of about one hundred and thirty six (136) patients, whose PSA screening results is 2.0ng/ml or more, attending urology unit of SOP clinics in UCH, for which the clinicians have a suspicion of prostate cancer, were recruited and interviewed after obtaining their informed consent. Results: This study recruited 136 participants with mean age of 67.34േ11.01 years. The overall average PSA value is 15ng/ml and the mean PSA across the age group showed no statistical significance. 8.8% and 47.8% of the participants had score of good knowledge on prostate cancer and biopsy respectively while 87.5% and 99.3% had positive attitude towards prostate cancer and biopsy respectively. Chi square revealed statistically significant association between knowledge of patients and attitude towards prostate biopsy (p=0.001). Regression analysis showed that respondents with good knowledge on prostate cancer and biopsy are 4 times more likely to have positive attitude prostate biopsy compare to people with poor knowledge. Conclusion: This study identified some of the salient issues and factors associated with prostate biopsy among patients attending the urology clinics in University college Hospital, Ibadan. Prime among the study findings is the relatively poor knowledge of the participants on prostate cancer and biopsy which had a significant association with their attitude towards this health risk-reduction behavior. Therefore, it is essential that men with urological disorders, who are suspected for prostate cancer, should be provided with multiple opportunities of becoming more aware of prostate cancer, its diagnostic methods and means to preventing it. Hence, more interventional efforts should be directed at developing strategies needed to increase awareness of Nigerian men towards prostate biopsy as well as improving the healthcare providers’ understanding of the factors associated with prostate biopsy which may stimulate the design of educational programs that focus on early detection of prostate cancer.