[What do men between 50 and 70 know about the effectiveness, the benefits, and the risks of prostate cancer screening?].

Objective: To evaluate the understanding of the population on prostate cancer screening.

Design: Descriptive study.

Setting: Primary care teams in the province of Barcelona, Spain, from april to september 2005.

[Comprension of a document informing citizens as to the benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening. A semistructured interview-based study].

Background: The development of tools to aid in prostate cancer screening-related decision-making is a challenge for healthcare professionals and institutions. This study is aimed at evaluating citizen comprehension of a document prepared by experts informing as to prostate cancer screening benefits and risks.

Methods: Phenomenological qualitative study conducted in Barcelona (November 2004-January 2005).