Introduction:

Examination by digital rectal examination is a way to early find prostate cancer. Although this examination is utmost important in the investigations, it has little acceptance due to the taboos rooted in society. In this sense, it is necessary to educate the male population.

Objective:

To raise the level of knowledge about prostate examination and self-examination in patients older than 45 years of age.

Methods:

A quasi-experimental study of educational intervention was carried out in a universe consisting of 62 patients older than 45 years of age from Área Este Teaching Polyclinic, in the city of Camagüey. The sample was made up of 55 patients who met the study selection criteria. The variables were analyzed age group, educational level; as well as knowledge about the general characteristics of prostate cancer, prevention and control of risk factors, prostate examination and self-examination before and after the educational intervention is applied.

Results:

In the studied sample, patients between 45-49 years of age (30.9%) and the average technical educational level (43.6%) predominated, while knowledge was raised in relation to the general characteristics of prostate cancer (40.0/94.6%), prevention and control of risk factors (20.0/92.7%), and 7.3/87.3% regarding prostate examination and self-examination.

Conclusions:

Statistically significant values were reached, so that the level of knowledge was raised in the sample studied.

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