Knowledge Levels, Attitude and Beliefs of Men towards the Digital Rectal Examinations (DRE): A study in Trinidad

Authors

Philip C. Onuoha, The University of the West IndiesFollow
Gloria Mootoo-Ramdeen, University of the West IndiesFollow
Melany Romany, University of the West IndiesFollow
G La Fleur-Roseman, University of the West IndiesFollow
J Roopnarine, University of the West IndiesFollow
D Diaspia-Murrell, University of the West IndiesFollow
K Martin-boucaud, University of the West IndiesFollow
P Hypolite, University of the West IndiesFollow

Abstract

Background: Trinidad and Tobago have been ranked as having one of the highest cancer mortality rates in the Caribbean. Prostate cancer was identified as the most common cancer in men, with a higher mortality than any other cancer. At least 1 in 9 men in Trinidad and Tobago will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine knowledge levels, attitudes, and beliefs of men aged 40 years and over regarding digital rectal examination (DRE). The investigators considered this crucial following the scourge of prostate cancer in Trinidad and Tobago and an apparent lack of the use of the DRE, a noted method of screening for the condition for early detection. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken using 216 men who were at least 40 years old and who gave their informed consent; these men were attending a central mall in Trinidad in the month of April 2018 when the data was collected. Data was collected using the researchers’ designed, self-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 20. Result: Results indicate that most men (95.8%) are knowledgeable/very knowledgeable about DRE. Similarly, most (64.6%) of the men have favourable/very favourable attitudes towards DRE while 59.3% of them indicated that their beliefs have little or major influence regarding their participation in DRE. It also showed that the men’s beliefs are associated with their ethnicity (pDiscussion/Recommendation/Conclusion: The findings suggest that perhaps the attitudes and beliefs of men aged 40 years and over attending this mall are better predictors of intentions than their knowledge. This needs to be explored further given the need to curb the prevalence of prostate cancer amongst men in Trinidad and Tobago.

Author Bio(s)

Philip C. Onuoha, PhD, MPH, BSc, RNT, RN is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

Glorida Mootoo-Rameen is an assistant lecturer at the UWSoN and a registered nurse.

Melany Romany, G. La Fleur-Rossemn, J. Roopnarine, D. Diasspia, K. Martin-Murrel, and H. Hypolite were all students of the UWI School of Nursing at the time this study was conducted.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the research participants as well as the Trincity Mall owners for their assistance in this project. We remain indebted to them.

DOI

10.46743/1540-580X/2020.1858

Recommended Citation

Onuoha PC, Mootoo-Ramdeen G, Romany M, La Fleur-Roseman G, Roopnarine J, Diaspia-Murrell D, et al. Knowledge Levels, Attitude and Beliefs of Men towards the Digital Rectal Examinations (DRE): A study in Trinidad. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2020 Jan 01;18(3), Article 12.