Black men in America confront dramatically higher prostate cancer death rates and more aggressive disease at younger ages compared to other groups. New research reveals that negative perceptions of the healthcare system and racial differences between patients and doctors significantly reduce screening rates, particularly affecting Black men.
Researchers analyzed data from 2,373 men aged 45-70 and found that those with more negative healthcare perceptions were substantially less likely to get PSA screening tests. Black men with such negative views were disproportionately unlikely to undergo screening compared to white men with similar attitudes.
The study also examined what happens when patients and healthcare providers are of different races. This racial discordance was independently linked to reduced screening, lowering the likelihood by roughly 10 percentage points. The effect was most pronounced among older Black men who both held negative healthcare views and saw providers of different racial backgrounds.
These findings suggest that closing screening gaps will require addressing systemic barriers beyond simple awareness campaigns. The researchers emphasized the need for culturally tailored education programs, greater diversity in the medical workforce, and strengthened relationships between providers and patients. Such interventions could help identify at-risk individuals and reduce the stark disparities that leave Black men vulnerable to deadlier prostate cancer outcomes.
Understanding how healthcare system perceptions shape screening behavior offers new pathways for developing targeted strategies to improve health equity.
See: “Negative perceptions of the health system and racial inequities in PSA screening” (October 29, 2025)Â
