African American Women’s Involvement in Promoting Informed Decision-Making for Prostate Cancer Screening Among Their Partners/Spouses

Abstract

Routine prostate cancer screening is not recommended but African American men who are at higher risk for the disease should be offered the opportunity for shared decision-making with their health-care providers. This qualitative study sought to better understand the potential role of women in educating their male spouses/partners about prostate cancer screening. Nine focus groups were conducted (n = 52). Women were recruited from a variety of community venues. Those eligible were African American and married to or in a partnership with an African American male age ≥ 45. Women provide numerous types of support to their male partners in an effort to facilitate participation in preventive health care. While women agreed that they would like to educate their partners about prostate cancer screening, they had little information about screening guidelines or the potential harms and limitations. The current findings suggest that women are eager information-seekers and can disseminate information to men and facilitate their efforts to make more informed decisions about prostate cancer screening. Women should be included in educational interventions for to promote informed decision-making for prostate cancer screening.

Culturally Responsive Health Promotion to Address Health Disparities in African American Men: A Program Impact Evaluation

“…Although we are interested in measuring the effect of women's influence on knowledge retention in the male cohort, testing that influence directly is beyond the scope of the pilot. Findings from the current study are largely in agreement and build on those of previous studies demonstrating the interest and involvement of women in the health and health care of AA communities (Allen et al, 2018(Allen et al, , 2013Eley et al, 2019;Jones et al, 2010;Plowden & Young, 2003).…”

Beyond the Individual: Social and Cultural Influences on the Health-Seeking Behaviors of African American Men

“…Given the positive and motivating influence of female partners and children noted in this study as well as other studies related to health communications and health promotion (Allen et al, 2018; Griffith, Ellis, & Allen, 2012), programs attempting to increase men’s health-seeking behavior can include these family members directly, either through joint activities or by enlisting partners and children in the dissemination of health behavior change communications (Friedman, Corwin, Rose, & Dominick, 2009; Owens, Jackson, Thomas, Friedman, & Hébert, 2015). In both of these cases, like those described for teachers and preachers, the personal connection can take ordinary health information and make it personal, if someone expresses concern and caring for a loved one’s health.…”

What Patients and Partners Want in Interventions That Support Sexual Recovery After Prostate Cancer Treatment: An Exploratory Convergent Mixed Methods Study

“…The recent literature recognizes the need to include both patients and their partners in prostate cancer survivorship care plans 33, 34, 35. At least 11 interventions promoting sexual recovery after prostate cancer treatment have been developed and tested over the past 10 years, involving a variety of approaches and outcome measures 36 .…”