Daniel S. Wang|Ashesh B. Jani|Caroline G. Tai|Musu Sesay|Daniel K. Lee|Michael Goodman|Katharina V. Echt|Kerry Kilbridge|Viraj A. Master
Severe lack of comprehension of common prostate health terms among low?income inner?city men
Emory University|Emory University|Emory University|Emory University|Emory University|Emory University|Emory University|Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center|Massachusetts General Hospital|Emory University
patients diagnosed prostate cancer often counseled treatment options use terms part core vocabulary prostate cancer hypothesized predominantly lower literacy patients would demonstrate severe lack comprehension prostate cancer terms thus validating findings previous singleinstitution studya previously developed survey used evaluate understanding terms related urinary bowel sexual function survey administered trained evaluators 2 safety net clinics provide care lowincome predominantly african american patients comprehension assessed using semiqualitative methods coded 2 independent investigators literacy numeracy also evaluatedamong 109 patients completed study 5 understood function prostate 15 29 32 understood terms incontinence urinary function bowel habits respectively lower levels comprehension observed compound words vaginal intercourse 58 versus single words intercourse 95 validating previous work median school level 13 years yet median literacy level ninth grade reading level significantly correlated comprehension 30 patients correctly calculated fraction percentlack comprehension prostate health terminology pronounced patient population may widespread lack comprehension potentially limits ability patients participate informed decisionmaking results validate findings previous studies supports continued need refined methods prostate cancer education