Date of Conferral

9-15-2026

Date of Award

September 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Dr. Zin Htway

Abstract

Prostate cancer incidence has increased among younger men in the United States, and treatment affects both patient survival and family well-being. This quantitative retrospective study examined survival among young men diagnosed with prostate cancer who received chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or prostatectomy, while accounting for socioeconomic factors of residence and ethnicity. Social cognitive theory was the framework. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine whether treatment method, socioeconomic factors of residence and ethnicity predicted survival among young men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Data was sourced from the National Cancer Database Participant User File 2004-2021 specific to prostate cancer. The study cohort included N = 2,052,596 men aged 55 years and younger who were diagnosed with prostate cancer and treated with prostatectomy, radiation and/or chemotherapy. Across fourteen models, the coefficients (log-odds) for median household income (Mdn = 0.046, min = 0.017, max = 0.071) and percent no high school degree quartiles (Mdn = 0.033, min = 0.018, max = 0.052) were positive predictors of survival (p < .05). These findings indicate higher median household income and greater high school degree attainment associated with increased survival. Across eight models, the coefficients (log-odds) for geographic residence of rural compared to baseline urban (Mdn = -0.077, min = -0.1005, max = -0.0374) was a negative predictor of survival (p < .05). The findings underscore the importance of equitable access to prostate cancer care and support positive social change. Healthcare providers and policymakers should collaborate to improve access to affordable prostate cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up care.

Download

Included in

Public Health Commons

Share

 
COinS