Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part J (2025)

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among men worldwide. Early detection through screening significantly improves outcomes. Lack of awareness, negative attitudes and poor screening practices contribute to delayed diagnosis, particularly in developing countries. Limited data exist on the awareness levels of prostate cancer among Indian men.
Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice related to prostate cancer and its screening among men aged 40 years and above attending a tertiary care teaching hospital.
Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 130 male participants aged ≥ 40 years at a tertiary teaching hospital for a period of three months. A validated KAP questionnaire was used to collect data. Chi-square test was used to assess associations between socio-demographic variables and knowledge levels, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: Only 25.3% of participants had ever heard of prostate cancer, with family/friends (12.3%) being the most common information sources. Knowledge of major risk factors was poor, older age (32.3%), obesity (25.3%), smoking (36.1%), and family history (29.2%). Attitudinal barriers were common, 70.7% of the participants considered digital rectal examination embarrassing, 66.9% found it physically uncomfortable, and 63.8% feared a positive diagnosis. Screening practices were extremely low, with only 3% having ever undergone prostate-specific antigen test or digital rectal examination. Knowledge was significantly associated with increasing age (P=0.047) and higher education levels (P=0.002), while marital status showed no significant association (P=0.469).
Conclusion: Our study identified a markedly low awareness, widespread misconceptions, and minimal screening uptake for prostate cancer among men. Psychological, cultural, and informational barriers strongly influence screening behaviour. Targeted educational interventions and counselling strategies are urgently required to improve knowledge, reduce stigma and promote early detection practices among men at risk.