UPDATE - Issue 20 - Winter 2004
What you think!
Initial results of Questionnaire In the last issue of Update we enclosed a questionnaire about the charity and prostate diseases. We received some 1,200 responses. Thank you. These will help us improve the services we offer and the work we do.
Many who responded asked detailed and specific questions about their own medical conditions, many of which we regret it has been impossible for us to answer. Some fairly trenchant views were expressed: there was anger at the standards of medical services available, concern over the lack of a screening programmes and comment on the low levels of awareness.
Some facts and figures: 95% of those who responded were male, 97% were over 50 and 86% had suffered from prostate problems. Of these, some two thirds suffered from prostate cancer, with the balance being affected by Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or Prostatitis. Indeed, there were numerous pleas for more Update articles on the latter two diseases and we will try to meet this request.
Update was very highly regarded, only pipped at the post by our Chairman's book The Prostate - small gland, big problem (the third edition will appear later this year). Only 15% used our website and that of this group, 93% did so for medical information: as we suspected, this publication remains the main source of communication, particularly for Events. It was disappointing to see that only 6% were prepared to become involved in fundraising events - but perhaps we need to persuade the 25% who said Possibly to join in!
Many responses confirmed previously held views. The vast majority felt that the negative impact of prostate disease was under-estimated by the general public and almost everybody of those who had been a prostate cancer patient thought that the Government and the NHS should invest greater resources into all stages of the disease.
Again, our thanks to all of you who helped with this most useful survey.