Impact of Psychological Distress on Prostate Cancer Screening in U.S. Military Veterans

The benefit of routine prostate cancer screening is currently under debate; however, many experts recommend that men with elevated risk for the disease discuss the potential risks and benefits of screening with their health care team. Psychological factors have been negatively associated with preven...

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Main Authors: Amy K. Silberbogen PhD, Andrea K. Busby PhD, Erin W. Ulloa PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2014-09-01
Series:American Journal of Men's Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988313516357
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author Amy K. Silberbogen PhD
Andrea K. Busby PhD
Erin W. Ulloa PhD
author_facet Amy K. Silberbogen PhD
Andrea K. Busby PhD
Erin W. Ulloa PhD
author_sort Amy K. Silberbogen PhD
collection DOAJ
description The benefit of routine prostate cancer screening is currently under debate; however, many experts recommend that men with elevated risk for the disease discuss the potential risks and benefits of screening with their health care team. Psychological factors have been negatively associated with preventive health behaviors such as cancer screenings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of depressive and trauma-related symptoms on prostate cancer screening behaviors and relevant health care perceptions among a sample of U.S. military veterans, as veterans are at higher risk for prostate cancer, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder than the general population. Participants ( n = 350) were a national sample of predominantly Caucasian (84.6%) male U.S. military veterans (60.5 years ± 8.9) who completed an online questionnaire regarding past prostate cancer screening engagement, as well as validated measures of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and perceived barriers and benefits to prostate cancer screening. Results indicate that greater depressive symptoms, trauma-related symptoms, and perceived barriers were associated with lower rates of past prostate cancer screening among this veteran sample and that greater depressive and trauma-related symptoms were associated with greater perceived barriers to prostate cancer screening. As prostate cancer screening recommendations continue to evolve, it is important for health care providers not only to discuss pros and cons of screening with high risk men but also to consider the impact of psychological distress on the decision-making process.
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spelling doaj.art-4a489efb54874cd59e5f8fa094121ebf2022-12-22T00:16:00ZengSAGE PublishingAmerican Journal of Men's Health1557-98831557-98912014-09-01810.1177/1557988313516357Impact of Psychological Distress on Prostate Cancer Screening in U.S. Military VeteransAmy K. Silberbogen PhD0Andrea K. Busby PhD1Erin W. Ulloa PhD2Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MAVA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USAVA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USAThe benefit of routine prostate cancer screening is currently under debate; however, many experts recommend that men with elevated risk for the disease discuss the potential risks and benefits of screening with their health care team. Psychological factors have been negatively associated with preventive health behaviors such as cancer screenings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of depressive and trauma-related symptoms on prostate cancer screening behaviors and relevant health care perceptions among a sample of U.S. military veterans, as veterans are at higher risk for prostate cancer, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder than the general population. Participants ( n = 350) were a national sample of predominantly Caucasian (84.6%) male U.S. military veterans (60.5 years ± 8.9) who completed an online questionnaire regarding past prostate cancer screening engagement, as well as validated measures of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and perceived barriers and benefits to prostate cancer screening. Results indicate that greater depressive symptoms, trauma-related symptoms, and perceived barriers were associated with lower rates of past prostate cancer screening among this veteran sample and that greater depressive and trauma-related symptoms were associated with greater perceived barriers to prostate cancer screening. As prostate cancer screening recommendations continue to evolve, it is important for health care providers not only to discuss pros and cons of screening with high risk men but also to consider the impact of psychological distress on the decision-making process.https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988313516357
spellingShingle Amy K. Silberbogen PhD
Andrea K. Busby PhD
Erin W. Ulloa PhD
Impact of Psychological Distress on Prostate Cancer Screening in U.S. Military Veterans
American Journal of Men's Health
title Impact of Psychological Distress on Prostate Cancer Screening in U.S. Military Veterans
title_full Impact of Psychological Distress on Prostate Cancer Screening in U.S. Military Veterans
title_fullStr Impact of Psychological Distress on Prostate Cancer Screening in U.S. Military Veterans
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Psychological Distress on Prostate Cancer Screening in U.S. Military Veterans
title_short Impact of Psychological Distress on Prostate Cancer Screening in U.S. Military Veterans
title_sort impact of psychological distress on prostate cancer screening in u s military veterans
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988313516357
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