Private MD News

Public service messages may hinder PSA testing campaigns

Category: Prostate

Many men who avoid PSA testing do so because they feel few other men are receiving screening for prostate cancer, and feel that it is not necessary, according to a new study from German researchers.

The study examined the effects of a public service message which promotes prostate testing by announcing that only one in five German men are screened for the cancer. It was found that men who feel like few others are being tested are less likely to pursue PSA testing.

"For us it is so interesting because this is very easy to change," says Monika Sieverding, who led the investigation. "There are so many barriers to cancer screening. You cannot change attitudes easily, or the image of the average cancer screening patient, but it is easy to change the framing of the campaign."

She added that health messages that make people feel like everyone else is doing something would be more effective than announcements that reinforce the undesired behavior.

PSA testing is widely considered the most effective tool for diagnosing prostate cancer, and the study pointed to this as possible point of emphasis for future ads.