Supporting prostate cancer survivors in primary care: Findings from a pilot trial of a nurse-led psycho-educational intervention (PROSPECTIV). (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Watson, Eila K.; Shinkins, Bethany; Matheson, Lauren; Burns, Richeal M.; Frith, Emma; Neal, David; Hamdy, Freddie; Walter, Fiona M.; Weller, David; Wilkinson, Claire; Faithfull, Sara; Sooriakumaran, Prasanna; Kastner, Christof; Campbell, Christine; Neal, Richard D.; Butcher, Hugh; Matthews, Mike; Perera, Rafael; Wolstenholme, Jane; Rose, Peter W.
• Is Part Of: European journal of oncology nursing. Volume 32(2018)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 81
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Prostate cancer -- Randomised controlled trial -- Pilot trial -- Primary care -- Nurse-led intervention -- Feasibility -- Self-efficacy; Cancer -- Nursing -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Research -- Periodicals; Oncology -- Periodicals; Oncology Nursing -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- nursing -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Soins infirmiers -- Périodiques; Cancer -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Cancérologie -- Périodiques; Verpleegkunde; Kanker; Cancer -- Nursing; Cancer -- Research; Oncology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9940231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2017.12.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-3889

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: This study sought to test the acceptability and feasibility of a nurse-led psycho-educational intervention (NLPI) delivered in primary care to prostate cancer survivors, and to provide preliminary estimates of the effectiveness of the intervention. Methods: Men who reported an ongoing problem with urinary, bowel, sexual or hormone-related functioning/vitality on a self-completion questionnaire were invited to participate. Participants were randomly assigned to the NLPI plus usual care, or to usual care alone. Recruitment and retention rates were assessed. Prostate-related quality of life, self-efficacy, unmet needs, and psychological morbidity were measured at baseline and 9 months. Health-care resource use data was also collected. An integrated qualitative study assessed experiences of the intervention. Results: 61% eligible men (83/136) participated in the trial, with an 87% (72/83) completion rate. Interviews indicated that the intervention filled an important gap in care following treatment completion, helping men to self-manage, and improving their sense of well-being. However, only a small reduction in unmet needs and small improvement in self-efficacy was observed, and no difference in prostate-related quality of life or psychological morbidity. Patients receiving the NLPI recorded more primary care visits, while the usual care group recorded more secondary care visits. Most men (70%; (21/30)) felt the optimal time for the intervention was around the time of diagnosis/before the end of treatment. Conclusions: Findings suggest a nurse-led psycho-educational intervention in primary care is feasible, acceptable and potentially useful to prostate cancer survivors. Highlights: Delivering a nurse-led intervention in primary care to support men with prostate cancer is feasible and acceptable. Men found the intervention useful, and it appeared to fill a gap in their care. Only small differences in patient outcome measures were found. A larger trial is needed to confirm intervention effectiveness. Participants were on average two years post-diagnosis – offering the intervention earlier may bring greater benefits.