INTRODUCTION: Information on prostate diseases, including prostate cancer, has 
been promoted by the Association Française d'Urologie (AFU) for several years, 
but is developing slowly in France. In 2005, a first communication was targeted 
to the male public and identified the reasons for the fatalistic attitude of 
men, and paradoxically, why the prostate incarnates the vulnerability of their 
sexual capital. As part of a second phase, this article presents the results of 
a complementary study conducted among general practitioners to identify their 
expectations and the most appropriate levers to promote screening.
MATERIAL AND METHOD: The Ipsos survey company developed a Krisis qualitative 
protocol in October 2005 (after the first French prostate day on 15 September 
2005). Three groups of general practitioners were defined: doctors who are very 
active in terms of screening, doctors who are uncomfortable with this problem 
and doctors who systematically refer their patients to urologists.
RESULTS: The management of prostate diseases often highlights the ageing process 
for the patient. The ability to discuss these problems during the consultation 
depended on the doctor's degree of comfort with this subject, which is related 
to his/her training and relationships with urologists. To initiate the question 
of screening, general practitioners involved in this process asked simple 
questions about everyday practices without being afraid of making jokes or 
basing their approach on mediatization of the disease. Digital rectal 
examination is one of the important clinical elements but is not always easy to 
perform. PSA was found to be an examination that is not always appropriate, 
characterized by a lack of information on the conditions for ordering this test, 
its usefulness and its relevance for screening. Ultrasound could be a way of 
alerting the patient without dramatizing the situation, letting the urologist 
perform digital rectal examination. Female general practitioners preferred PSA 
and ultrasound. The doctors surveyed relied on mediatization of prostate 
diseases, a high level of interactivity with urologists and documents and 
brochures to be placed in waiting rooms to relay screening messages.
CONCLUSION: General practitioners need their authorities, specialists and public 
health institutions to develop and mediatize andrology in the same way as 
gynaecology. Urologists play a major supportive role by means of conferences, 
postgraduate training or AFU invitations.