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Early decision and psychosocial support intervention for men with localised prostate cancer: an integrated approach

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Abstract

Goal

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer experience high decision-related distress concurrent with cancer-related distress. Psycho-education, problem solving and decision support were integrated in a novel telephone-delivered supportive care intervention targeting men at diagnosis and assessed for feasibility.

Materials and Methods

An exploratory single-group pre–post-test design tracked session frequency, duration and content. Standardised measures assessed decisional conflict, cancer-related distress and decision involvement. Brief screening measures for psychological and decision-related distress were incorporated into the intervention protocol. Twenty men (77% response) newly diagnosed with localised prostate cancer received the intervention.

Results

Men who were undecided about treatment at study entry required more pre-treatment intervention calls (p < 0.013). Pre-treatment support calls were longer (M = 40.2 min) and more complex by comparison to post-treatment calls (M = 30.9 min; p < 0.002). Brief screening for decision-related distress correlated with concurrent (p < 0.008) and prospective (p < 0.046) decisional conflict. Decisional conflict and intrusion decreased at post-test (p < 0.001; p < 0.005). Men reported a high level of satisfaction with the support received with benefits identified including anonymity and accessibility.

Conclusions

In this setting, a tele-based supportive care and decision support intervention for men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer was feasible. The use of brief screening measures as within-intervention clinical tools appears promising.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the Northern Section of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand and Mrs Sylvia Milner, RN, in the development of this education program. We also acknowledge Ass. Prof Dawn Stacey for her assistance with specialist decision support training for the nurse counsellors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Cancer Council Queensland, 553 Gregory Terrace, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, 4006, Australia

    Suzanne K. Steginga, Megan Ferguson & Samantha Clutton

  2. School of Psychology, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia

    Suzanne K. Steginga

  3. Department of Surgery, University of Queensland, Clinical Sciences Building, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, Queensland, 4029, Australia

    R. A. (Frank) Gardiner

  4. Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Queensland, 4102, Australia

    David Nicol

  5. Programs and Research, The Cancer Council Queensland, P.O. Box 201, Spring Hill, Queensland, 4004, Australia

    Suzanne K. Steginga

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  1. Suzanne K. Steginga
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  2. Megan Ferguson
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  3. Samantha Clutton
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  4. R. A. (Frank) Gardiner
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  5. David Nicol
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Correspondence to Suzanne K. Steginga.

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Steginga, S.K., Ferguson, M., Clutton, S. et al. Early decision and psychosocial support intervention for men with localised prostate cancer: an integrated approach. Support Care Cancer 16, 821–829 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0351-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0351-7

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