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Table 2 Knowledge of prostate cancer risk factors; we asked GPs 'For each of the following, please indicate whether you believe they influence the risk of developing prostate cancer.

From: Factors prompting PSA-testing of asymptomatic men in a country with no guidelines: a national survey of general practitioners

Risk factor

Correct

N (%)

Does not effect risk

N (%)

Reduces risk

N (%)

Increases risk

N (%)

Don't know

N (%)

Missing

N (%)

Increased age (> 50 years)

1,592 (98%)

8 (0.5%)

3 (0.2%)

1,592 (98%)

4 (0.2%)

18 (1%)

1st degree relative with prostate cancer

1,300 (80%)

97 (6%)

3 (0.2%)

1,300 (80%)

184 (11%)

41 (3%)

Current smoking

263 (16%)

263 (16%)

3 (0.2%)

908 (56%)

386 (24%)

65 (4%)

High dietary fat intake

386 (24%)

391 (24%)

8 (0.5%)

386 (24%)

777 (48%)

63 (4%)

1st degree relative with breast cancer

298 (18%)

533 (33%)

2 (0.1%)

298 (18%)

725 (45%)

67 (4%)

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

857 (53%)

857 (53%)

13 (0.8%)

452 (28%)

247 (15%)

56 (3%)

African American ethnicity

284 (17%)

109 (7%)

104 (6%)

284 (17%)

1,078 (66%)

50 (3%)