Behaviors used by men to protect themselves against prostate cancer.

This paper reports on behaviors men use to protect themselves against prostate cancer. Data were collected via a telephone or mailed survey from 353 men enrolled in two studies of prostate cancer screening. Respondents reported behaviors they used to protect themselves against prostate cancer, and responses were coded as conventional care, self-care, or nothing.

The role of nursing in cervical cancer prevention and treatment.

Nurses today assume multiple roles, such as patient advocate, care provider, and research investigator. At the Second International Conference on Cervical Cancer (April 11-14, 2002, Houston, TX), nurses presented original research describing these roles in the context of cervical cancer screening, prevention, and detection in the United States and Sweden; outlined the uses of practice guidelines; and suggested future directions for nursing research. In the 20th century, nurses expanded their patient care responsibilities and promoted cancer control by expanding their skills.

Intention to be tested for prostate cancer risk among African-American men.

This study was conducted to identify factors associated with intention to be tested for prostate cancer risk among African-American men. Participants in this study included African-American men (n = 548) who were patients at the University Health Service at the University of Chicago, were 40 to 70 years of age, and did not have a personal history of prostate cancer. Baseline telephone survey data were collected for 413 (75%) men.

Educational programs in cancer prevention and detection: determining content and quality.

Purpose/objectives: To provide an overview of available programs and to present recommendations for important components of a cancer prevention and detection educational and training experience.

Data Sources: Research, journal articles, Internet resources.

Data Synthesis: Variations in the efforts to provide basic, advanced, and continuing medical education exist across healthcare disciplines.

Bioethical considerations in cancer prevention and early detection practice and research.

Purpose/objectives: To review current ethical issues in cancer prevention and early detection, discuss some of the key methods and theories in contemporary bioethics, present clinical scenarios that illustrate moral problems that nurses may encounter, and show how the theories and methods can assist ethical decision making.

Data Sources: Published articles, abstracts, and books; case studies developed from clinical experience and literary sources.

Data Synthesis: Oncology nurses face a host of ethical considerations when providing cancer prevention and early detection education and services and when conducting research in this arena.

Sociodemographic predictors of adherence to annual cervical cancer screening in minority women.

The Papanicolaou (Pap) test is an effective screening mechanism for reducing morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. Nevertheless, Pennsylvania ranks fifth in national cervical cancer incidence and fourth in national cervical cancer mortality, with a significant number of cases contributed by Philadelphia. Substantial subgroups of American women, specifically ethnic minorities, the elderly, the uninsured, and the poor, have not been screened or are not screened at regular intervals.

Perceptual determinants of Pap test up-to-date status among minority women.

Purpose/objectives: To determine whether African American and Latina women were up-to-date on getting an annual Pap test and whether behavioral, normative, and control beliefs differed among women who were up-to-date versus women who were not.

Design: Descriptive, correlational.

Setting: Urban, community-based agencies located within the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Predicting intentions to obtain a Pap smear among African American and Latina women: testing the theory of planned behavior.

Objective: To determine the empirical adequacy of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explain Pap smear use intentions in African American and Latina women.

Method: A correlational design was used, and a convenience sample of 108 African American and 96 Latina adult women were recruited from urban community-based agencies located in a large mid-Atlantic metropolitan area. The Pap Smear Questionnaire (PSQ) was designed and used.

Cultural assessment of black American men treated for prostate cancer: clinical case studies.

Purpose/objectives: To describe aspects of culturally competent care. Two case studies of black American men who received treatment for prostate cancer are presented to illustrate the use of the explanatory model of illness as a guide for conducting a cultural assessment.

Data Sources: Published articles, abstracts, and books; case studies developed from interviews of black American men who received treatment for prostate cancer.

Lung cancer in African Americans. A call for action.

Purpose: The authors present information about current trends in the incidence, risk factors, types, presentation, and treatment for lung cancer common to all Americans and highlight factors that are unique to African Americans. Barriers to effective care and strategies for implementing culturally competent programs for lung cancer are outlined.

Overview: Disparity in the incidence and mortality rates of cancer between African Americans and white Americans has been increasing at an alarming rate since 1950.