Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Lori Demeter

Abstract

Despite the growing concerns about routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in men, little is known about the societal and economic impact of screening among the African American population. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore beliefs among African American men about PSA screening, funding for screening, and the role of the United States Preventive Service Task Force in addressing the problem. Guided by rational choice theory, data collection consisted of completion of a health beliefs survey, face-to-face interviews, field notes taken during interview, and interview audio recording. The population for the study included African American men residing in a large metropolitan Midwestern city, who are between the ages of 45 and 65, and who have not been diagnosed with prostate cancer disease. Data were analyzed using NVivo10-© to identify themes and patterns. Results from the study show that the decision to participate in prostate screening for African American men is hindered due to concerns about access, cost, and affordability. These three factors should be further evaluated in a larger setting for a greater understanding of their roles in more effective screening programs and policies. Insights gained from this study may positively impact future policy by providing a deeper understanding of the beliefs held by African American men on the issue of prostate cancer screening that may eventually lead to developing and successfully implementing policies that can be cost effective.

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