Trial Information

Dissemination of Prostate Cancer Screening to Primary Care Physicians in African American Communities

We will conduct a two-arm trial, recruiting, obtaining consent, then assigning 200
physicians' offices at random to one of two arms: intervention (multi-component academic
detailing including an interactive, digitized CD-ROM, focused on the discussion of risks and
benefits, screening options or alternatives, values clarification, and mutual
decision-making, alongside patient education materials designed for low literacy patients)
or to a service-as-usual control arm. We will query 200 physicians about their PC knowledge,
attitudes/beliefs toward screening and screening options, and PSA testing at baseline, 6,
and 12months post-randomization, compared to the rate observed in a service-as-usual
control. Physician counseling in cancer control will be verified by a chart review at
baseline and at 12months post-randomization (N=750). The instruments will assess prostate
cancer knowledge, attitudes and beliefs toward screening, and uptake of the PSA. The nested
design uses the physician's office as the unit of randomization, and the office as the unit
of analysis.