Health locus of control and prostate cancer screening uptake following prostate cancer education among male college students in Nigeria. A quasi-experimental pretest–post-test control group study.

Olaitan Johnson Balogun

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2572

Authors

Olaitan Johnson Balogun Department of Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2572

Keywords:

Prostate cancer, Health locus of control, Disease education, Screening uptake, Knowledge, Attitude, Nigeria, Cancer prevention, Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy among Nigerian men and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Health locus of control (HLoC) is a well-established psychosocial construct with demonstrated influence on preventive health behaviour. This study investigated the effect of a structured disease education programme on knowledge, attitude, and uptake of prostate cancer screening among male college students in Oyo State, Nigeria, and examined the moderating roles of health locus of control and religion.

Methods

A quasi-experimental pretest-post-test control group design with a 2x2x2 factorial matrix was adopted. Two hundred (200) male students were recruited from government-owned Colleges of Education in Oyo State using a multi-stage sampling technique. Participants in the experimental group received an eight-week structured prostate cancer disease education programme; the control group received personal hygiene education. Data were collected using validated instruments: the Knowledge of Prostate Cancer Screening Scale (KPCSS, α=0.78), Attitude Towards Prostate Cancer Screening Scale (ATPCSS, α=0.81), and Uptake of Prostate Cancer Screening Scale (UPCSS, α=0.77). Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) was used to test hypotheses at p<0.05.

Results

Disease education significantly improved knowledge (F (1,192) =139.204, p<0.001, η²=0.420), attitude (F(1,192) =184.553, p<0.001, η²=0.490), and uptake (F (1,192) =143.890, p<0.001, η²=0.428) of prostate cancer screening. Locus of control had a significant main effect on uptake (F (1,192) =3.624, p=0.048, η²=0.019), with participants of external locus of control recording higher post-intervention uptake scores. Religion had no significant main effect on any outcome.

Conclusions

Disease education is an effective intervention for improving prostate cancer screening behaviour among male college students in Nigeria. Health locus of control differentially predicts screening uptake, with externally oriented individuals responding more strongly post-intervention.

Recommendation

Targeted health education programmes in tertiary institutions should incorporate psychosocial constructs such as locus of control to optimise uptake of cancer screening.

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