Prostate Health Empowerment Initiative: Breaking Barriers, Promoting Awareness

Abstract

DNP ProjectIntroduction: Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in the United States, with African American men (AAM) disproportionately affected. Contributing factors include medical mistrust, poor patient-provider communication, fear of diagnosis, and societal stigma. Methods: A culturally tailored educational program on prostate cancer screening guidelines for high-risk AAM was delivered to healthcare providers (HCPs) Surveys conducted before and after the program evaluated the provider’s knowledge while screening and referral rates were compared pre- and post-intervention. Results: Pre-intervention, 38.4% were screened for prostate cancer, while in post-intervention, 33.7% were screened. The proportion of unscreened patients increased from 61.6% to 66.3%. However, clinic visits by AAM increased, suggesting enhanced healthcare engagement. Among those screened, 100% underwent PSA testing, with PSA elevations rising from 3.3% pre-intervention to 4.2% post-intervention. Referral rates for elevated PSA remained at 100% in both periods. Discussion: Although screening rates did not improve as expected, the intervention may have contributed to increased healthcare engagement. Future efforts should focus on addressing screening barriers, enhancing provider engagement, and improving referral tracking to ensure timely prostate cancer detection and treatment for high-risk AAM