PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE; A STUDY OF ADULT MEN IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: The incidence and prevalence of prostate cancer is increasing in Pakistan in recent years. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the whole world.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done using a questionnaire having questions related to symptoms and treatment options of Prostate cancer. A total of 352 healthy males aged 18 years and above were included in the study. Questionnaire was handed over to 102 healthy male attendants of patients presenting to outpatient department, Mayo hospital Lahore. A soft copy was also formatted using google forms and emailed to around 250 men of different age groups studying or working at various public and private sector nonmedical colleges and universities of Lahore. Descriptive statistics including mean, percentages and standard deviation was used to conclude results.
Results: Out of 352 participants, more than half (55.7%) of the participants had heard of the prostate cancer while the others did not. Only 12.8% participants knew about the early symptoms of prostate cancer. More than a quarter participants (29.5%) were not sure about the treatment options of prostate cancer.
Conclusion: The overall knowledge and awareness among general public about prostate cancer was poor. There is an urgent need to introduce a public sector awareness campaign for Prostate cancer in Pakistan.