Screening behavior in brothers and sons of men with prostate cancer.

Purpose: We identified factors associated with screening behavior in the brothers and sons of men with prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: We contacted 837 men with prostate cancer to invite their 40 to 70-year-old brothers or sons to participate in this study. We mailed the brothers and sons who contacted us a survey to explore sociodemographic and medical characteristics, prostate cancer family history, prostate cancer knowledge, self-efficacy, barriers to screening, perceived benefits, perceived vulnerability and medical support.

Results: Of the 138 candidates who participated in the study 86 (62%) had undergone prostate specific antigen and digital rectal examination within the last 2 years. Men older than 50 years, those who had discussed prostate cancer screening with their physician, those with good knowledge of recommended screening frequency and those with no co-morbidity had undergone screening more often than others.

Conclusions: Physician support and prostate cancer screening knowledge were positively associated with previous screening. Effective interventions to increase screening in families at risk should target physicians.