Exploration of Men's Experiences of Prostate Cancer v1.0 21.09.15
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration of men's experiences of favourable-risk prostate cancer: A mixed methods study.
IRAS ID
184299
Contact name
Eimear Ruane-McAteer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Active surveillance (AS) for favourable risk prostate cancer (PCa), i.e. low/intermediate risk, has been deemed medically safe and does not result in increased patient morbidity or mortality, however the psychological impact has been understudied. It has been suggested that uncertainty, depression and anxiety are issues in this population, a result of living with untreated cancer. This study seeks to understand the experiences of men undergoing AS with the view to develop a profile of those who tend to struggle with AS therefore allowing health care professionals to identify those who require additional support.
PCa patients eligible for AS (i.e. diagnosed with favourable risk PCa) will be recruited at their diagnosis appointment in cancer clinics associated with the Belfast-Manchester Movember Centre of Excellence. Patients will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires assessing anxiety, depression, uncertainty, prostate function and general health before they make a treatment decision. Three months post-diagnosis, and in 3 month intervals for up to 12 months thereafter, men will be asked to complete items related to anxiety, depression, uncertainty, knowledge of PCa and involvement of their physician in treatment decision making, as well as general physical and prostate health.
A control group of age-matched men will be recruited using peer nomination, i.e. men on AS will be asked to nominate a male family member or friend within 5 years of their age with no diagnosis that could impact psychological or physical functioning. Anxiety, depression and prostate function will be assessed in the same intervals as the AS patients.
After the 12 month follow up a proportion of those men on AS who report the highest and lowest psychological well-being will be invited to participate in a qualitative interview to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences related to PCa and AS.REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
15/NI/0210
Date of REC Opinion
28 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion