Study Targets Prostate Cancer Screening Gap Among Black Men

OKLAHOMA CITY – A newly funded study at the University of Oklahoma aims to increase prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening among Black men in Oklahoma, who die from prostate cancer at rates two to four times higher than other racial groups. An interactive app called Connect2Care may hold the key to early detection, which is crucial for improving survival.

A five-year, $2.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will allow researchers to conduct a clinical trial testing Connect2Care, which educates users about prostate cancer and guides them through using an at-home PSA blood test, which is then analyzed in a certified laboratory. In an earlier pilot study, Black men who used the app learned more about prostate cancer and were more likely to complete the at-home PSA test than men who used a standard informational app from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

“PSA screening rates are very low among Black men, and early detection is critical for improving outcomes. When prostate cancer is detected in later stages, the five-year survival rate plummets as low as 33%. But when it is detected early, the survival rate is between 90% and 100%. We believe we have created an innovative way to increase PSA screening that allows men to complete testing at home,” said study principal investigator Adam Alexander, Ph.D., a member of the TSET Health Promotion Research Center at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and an assistant professor in the OU College of Medicine.

The Connect2Care app brings multiple steps of prostate cancer screening into a single digital platform. It provides culturally tailored, interactive education; helps men understand their personal risk; connects them with medical professionals; and guides them through completing an at-home PSA test and accessing follow-up care when needed.

Ultimately, Alexander said, researchers envision the app being part of a medical facility’s regular workflow to reach men who may face barriers to completing in-person PSA screening. Transportation issues, work and family commitments, cost and lack of healthcare access are among the obstacles that keep men from going in person to a clinic for screening.

Researchers built another novel feature into the app that they hope will help men overcome an additional difficulty: stigma. Through the app, men can request a confidential call with someone who has survived prostate cancer to talk about what they may be facing and feeling.

“Getting screened for prostate cancer is not something men typically speak about openly. Being able to hear from people from your own community who’ve been through prostate cancer is a valuable resource that has allowed men to open up to the idea of getting screened,” said co-principal investigator Jordan Neil, Ph.D., a member of the TSET Health Promotion Research Center at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and an assistant professor in the OU College of Medicine.

Pilot data on Connect2Care were promising, and the new grant will allow the research team to conduct the study in a much larger cohort. The trial will enroll 684 Black men in Oklahoma, ages 55-69, who are not up to date with PSA screening. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: the Connect2Care app, which provides prostate cancer education and guides users through at-home PSA testing; the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force app, which provides basic information; or usual care, which includes a brochure about the importance of PSA screening.

Trial participants will use the materials for 30 days, then researchers will check in to see if they have completed PSA screening. Surveys throughout the month will solicit additional information. Researchers will check back in at the six-month mark to again determine if PSA screening was completed and, if the results were elevated, whether participants sought follow-up treatment.

“What we’re looking for in the study is whether Connect2Care can increase the number of people who complete PSA screening and whether providing an at-home option helps overcome some of the barriers to screening,” Alexander said. “We believe we have created a one-stop shop that will make screening easier and provide a seamless handoff to a medical provider if further evaluation or treatment is warranted.”

For more information about the trial, email heroes@ouhsc.edu or call (405) 443-3994.

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About the project

Research reported in this press release was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01CA299966-01A1. The TSET Health Promotion Research Center and its activities are made possible through funding from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). The Presbyterian Health Foundation also supported the development of the app.

About the University of Oklahoma

Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university with campuses in Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and healthcare needs of the state, region and nation. In Oklahoma City, the OU Health Campus is one of the nation’s few academic health centers with seven health profession colleges located on the same campus. The OU Health Campus serves approximately 4,000 students in more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs spanning Oklahoma City and Tulsa and is the leading research institution in Oklahoma. For more information about the OU Health Campus, visit www.ouhsc.edu.