Relationship between knowledge level of men over forty years old on medical screening for prostate cancer and healthcare literacy of them

ABSTRACT Object: It's aimed to examine relationship between knowledge level of men over forty years old on medical screening of prostate cancer and healthcare literacy of them in this study. Materials an Methods: This research descriptive is planned. Universe of the research is consisted from men aged from 40 to 70 years old who are registered to 3rd Family Health Center (FHC) where in Manisa city center (N=16417). The sample of the study is consisted from 501 men in these three region (n=501). In determining sample of the study, the minimum number of sample is calculated that should be 5 % deviation and 99 % confidence range by getting expected prevalence of prostate cancer specific to male gender in Turkey in Epi Info 2000 program. "Socio-Demographical Information Form", "Knowledge Scale Directed to Screening of Prostate Cancer" and "Scale for Health Literacy" are used for data collection. Analyzes of research is performed by SPSS 15,0 (Statistical Package for Social Science) statistical analyze program. Findings: Men in the study group are in 40-70 age range and the average age is 52,04 ± 8,40, 74,1 % of participants have middle income level, 27,7 % of them graduated from high school, 92,6 % of them have social security and 26,9 % of them are retired. Average score for Knowledge Scale for Screening Prostate Cancer (KSSPC) is determined as inadequate level with 3,85±2,05 point and Healthcare Literacy Scale (HLS) is determined on "having little difficulty" with 80,87 ± 16,03 average point. A positive middle level relation is determined between KSSPC score and HLS score of participants (r=0,693, p=0,00). Difference on average point of KSSPC of men is explained by 48 % average point of HLS (r=0,693 R2=0,48 p<0,001). Results: As a result of the study it's determined that knowledge level on screening of prostat cancer of men is effected by level of healthcare literacy.