A Structural Equation Modeling of Prostate Cancer Screening Intention

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with the intention of the prostate cancer screening (PCS). To achieve this purpose, a structural equation model was established based on the health belief model and the theory of planned behavior.METHODS: The subjects of this study were 260 male participants who were between 40 and 74 years old and had not taken the PCS. Data were collected using a structured self-report questionnaire (i.e., perceived benefits, perceived barriers, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and intention of the PCS). Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and fitness test were used to test hypotheses.RESULTS: The intention of the PCS was directly affected by the perceived behavior control and indirectly influenced by the perceived benefits. The structural equation model also showed that the perceived behavior control explained 78% of the intention.CONCLUSION: To raise the intention to take the PCS, it is necessary to increase the confidence of a subject that may control its difficulties and inform the perceived benefits of the PCS to a subject.