Does clarifyng the digital rectal examination to the elderly reduce the discomfort in its first execution?

Objective: To assess the degree of discomfort reported by elderly men when first submitted to digital rectal examination (DRE) in the prevention of prostate cancer and the effect of previous explanations on this complaint.

Methods: A prospective, randomized study in 120 men aged 60 to 80 years, divided into two groups: group A (routine medical appointment) and group B (medical appointment with educational intervention). In group B, the information tools were informal talk with explanations of DRE and prostate cancer, visualization of model of the male pelvis and the anatomical relations with the prostate, DRE simulator and DVD with three-dimensional animation of the pelvic organs.