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Health Belief Model Prostate Cancer

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Introduction According to Anderson and Marshall-Lucette (2016), prostate cancer is the second leading cause of deaths in developed countires with the highest incidence in diagnoses for males worldwide. (p1046) “African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer, with a 1 in 5 probability of getting prostate cancer with the lowest rate of participation in prostate cancer screening. (Sandiford & D’Errico, 2015, p.86) The Health Belief Model was constructed to help understand behavior and reasons for noncompliance with medical care and actions. Nurses and healthcare professionals can use the information to help develop a model regarding prostate cancer screening that will educate patients, promote health, help prevent disease …show more content…

Based on the concepts established for the Health Belief Model, one could focus their attentions toward the screening of prostate cancer Jamaican males. For example the constructs could be as follows: (1) knowledge regarding prostate cancer and perceived susceptibility of diagnosis (2) perceived expectancy or seriousness of having prostate cancer, (3) perceived benefits of being screened for prostate cancer, (4) perceived barriers to being screened for prostate cancer, (5) cues to action to seek screening for prostate cancer, (6) motivating factors toward screening for prostate cancer and (7) the belief one's ability to take action toward treating prostate …show more content…

Educating males on the severity of prostate cancer in their culture and the importance in screening for the condition can save many lives. It is our job, as healthcare professionals, to provide this patient population with a means and strategy capable of reducing the prevalence of prostate cancer. Many men are not aware but routine screening should start when one reaches his 50’s or 40’s if he is from a high-risk group or has a family history of the disease. (Sandiford, L., & D’Errico, E. 2016, p86) According to Anderson & Mashall-Lucette (2016), African American men are disinclined to participate in screening programs due to fear that the digital rectal exam can lead to homosexuality or changes in masculinity, a diagnosis may be discovered, lack of knowledge surrounding the diagnosis and family history, socioeconomic status, changes in one’s sex life, and developing sexual or urinary dysfunction.

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