Socioeconomic Factors Influence Participation in Organised Screening for Prostate Cancer

Strategic Insights -

Research from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden has highlighted the impact of socioeconomic factors and urbanisation on participation in organised prostate cancer screening. In a study published in PLOS One, researchers examined the associations between neighbourhood characteristics and participation in a population-based organised prostate cancer testing (OPT) programme among 50-year-old men in Region Västra Götaland. The study found that participation was significantly lower in neighbourhoods with higher deprivation indices, lower incomes, and higher proportions of non-Western immigrants.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that unadjusted participation in the OPT programme was significantly lower in neighbourhoods with the highest deprivation index, lowest income, lowest education, and highest proportion of non-Western immigrants, compared to the opposite quintile.
  • After adjustment for other variables, significant gradients remained for deprivation, proportion of non-Western immigrants, and degree of urbanisation.
  • The study concluded that socioeconomic factors and degree of urbanisation influence participation in organised screening for prostate cancer.
  • Actively inviting men for screening does not in itself avoid socioeconomic disparity in early detection of prostate cancer.
  • The study involved data from 50-year-old men invited for screening in 2020-2021 through the Regional, population-based organised prostate cancer testing (OPT) programme in Sweden.

Statistics:

  • Unadjusted participation was significantly lower in neighbourhoods with the highest deprivation index (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.56-0.67).
  • Unadjusted participation was significantly lower in neighbourhoods with the lowest income (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.59-0.71).
  • Unadjusted participation was significantly lower in neighbourhoods with the highest proportion of non-Western immigrants (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.64-0.77).
  • Adjusted involvement was lower in neighbourhoods with the highest deprivation index (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.57-0.74).
  • Adjusted involvement was lower in neighbourhoods with the highest proportion of non-Western immigrants (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.69-0.88).
  • Adjusted involvement was lower in rural areas compared to urban areas (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.71-0.87).

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Findings from University of Gothenburg Yields New Findings on Prostate Cancer [Associations Between Neighbourhood Characteristics and Participation In a Population-based Organised Prostate Cancer Testing (Opt) Programme: a Register-based Study ...]. Cancer Weekly. June 10, 2025; p 151.
  • PLOS One. Associations Between Neighbourhood Characteristics and Participation In a Population-based Organised Prostate Cancer Testing (Opt) Programme: a Register-based Study of 50-year-old Men. 2025;20(4).