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

Sexual health needs and psychosocial well-being of patients with prostate cancer in a regional cancer Center

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men. The cancer diagnosis and treatment can affect patients' psychosocial and sexual health. The purpose of this research project was to identify the sexual health concerns of patients with prostate cancer. An anonymous survey was administered to patients while accessing Grand River Regional Cancer Center (GRRCC) that included measures of sexual health and perceived stress and social support, ratings for preferred modes of sexual health programming, and open-ended questions on sexual health and masculinity. Seventy-five patients completed the survey; their mean age was 73.9 years (SD 7.2), the majority were in a couple relationship and identified as heterosexual. The concerns most endorsed were physical changes in sexual functioning and being able to satisfy their partner sexually. These findings can inform sexual health programming and psychosocial oncology for men with prostate cancer.

Distress screening and supportive care referrals used by telephone-based health services: a systematic review

PURPOSE

People affected by chronic diseases such as cancer report high levels of distress and a need for psychosocial support. It is unclear whether telephone-based services for people affected by chronic disease are a practical setting for implementing distress screening, referral protocols and rescreening to direct supportive care where it is needed. This systematic review aimed to describe the published literature regarding distress screening and supportive care referral practices in telephone-based services for people affected by chronic diseases such as cancer.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane and Scopus was conducted in February 2018. Included quantitative studies involved: patients or caregivers affected by chronic diseases including cancer and describe a health service assessing psychosocial needs or distress via telephone. Extracted data included the type of cancer or other chronic disease, sample size, screening tool, referral or rescreening protocols, and type of health service.

RESULTS

The search identified 3989 potential articles with additional searches returning 30 studies (n = 4019); fourteen were eligible for full-text review. Of the 14 studies, 13 included cancer patients. Studies were across multiple settings and identified nine distress screening tools in use.

CONCLUSION

The reviewed studies indicate that validated distress-screening tools are being used via telephone to identify distress, particularly in relation to cancer. Screening-driven supportive care referrals are also taking place in telephone-based services. However, not all services use an established referral protocol. Ongoing rescreening of callers' distress is also limited despite it being an important recommendation from psycho-oncology guidelines.

Psychotherapeutic Interventions Targeting Prostate Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of the Literature

CONTEXT

Psychological counseling is a rarely discussed need for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa).

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review studies that investigated the effectiveness and feasibility of professional psychotherapeutic support for PCa patients.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic search was carried out using electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane library. The search was performed up to September 1, 2017; only articles published in English were considered. The combination of the search words "prostate cancer" with "psychotherapy" was used. Inclusion criteria were: (1) studies with psychotherapy interventions that included PCa patients; (2) patients with localized or advance disease; and (3) professional psychotherapeutic support.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

We identified a total of ten studies (1067 participants). Six studies investigated cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT; 713 participants). Two studies used supportive psychotherapy (88 participants) and two used cognitive essential couple therapy (133 couples). Most studies came from the USA (5 studies). CBT seemed to be beneficial in African Americans, Hispanics, men with higher interpersonal sensitivity, and those with relatively high levels of stress in single studies. Couples therapies seemed beneficial for patients and their partners. Supportive psychotherapy was usually integrated into multimodal supportive treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the limitations of the available studies, there is promising early evidence that specialized psychotherapeutic support for PCa patients is feasible and beneficial. Psychological intervention can significantly improve PCa patients' wellbeing after therapy. Further multicenter randomized controlled trials should focus on assessing which patients need psychotherapeutic help and which are most likely to benefit from such support, and which type of interventions are the most appropriate for each patient.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We report on studies comparing psychological outcomes in prostate cancer patients treated with psychotherapeutic interventions. Psychotherapeutic support is feasible and improves overall wellbeing and cancer-related distress in some prostate cancer patients.

Population-based study of grade progression in patients who harboured Gleason 3 + 3

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate (1) the time interval between a decision to commence on active surveillance (AS) and grade progression in community practice; (2) factors predicting grade progression in localised prostate cancer (CaP) patients apparently undergoing AS.

METHODS

Data from the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry-Victoria were used to analyze men with Gleason 3 + 3 CaP or less who had at least one repeat biopsy. Unadjusted and adjusted 5-year Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to assess the time to grade progression. Both univariate and multivariate analyses for grade progression were performed using Cox proportional hazards.

RESULTS

The cohort included 951 men. Overall, 39% of men had Gleason grade reclassified to a higher risk disease state with median of 2.2 years [IQR 1.2-3.7 years]. Men who harboured cT2 disease were 30% more likely to have upgrading compared to men with cT1 disease (adjusted HR: 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.6, p = 0.048). Half of the men with cT2 in our cohort had their Gleason grade reclassified within 1.6 years from diagnosis as compared with 2.7 years for the cT1 group. The presence of percentage of core involvement >25.0% and a PSA velocity of >1.01 ng/mL/year remained significant for a higher progression rate. The adjusted HR: 1.6; 95% CI [1.2-2.3], p = 0.004; adjusted HR: 1.6, 95% CI [1.2-2.4], p = 0.021, for percent of core involvement of 25.1-37.5%, and ≥37.6%, respectively. The adjusted HRs and p value associated with PSA velocity were 1.5; 95% CI [1.1-2.1], p = 0.016 and 1.6; 95% CI [1.2-2.3], p = 0.003 for PSA velocity values of 1.01-2 ng/mL per year and >2 ng/mL per year, respectively. Men who were diagnosed in regional hospital and subsequently had biopsy in metropolitan hospital were twice at risk of having Gleason upgrade compared to those whom both diagnostic and surveillance biopsies were carried out in metropolitan hospitals (adjusted HR: 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.3, p = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

When placing men on AS and considering time to histologic progression, clinicians should pay particular attention to the likely accuracy of the diagnostic specimen, their tumour stage, volume of tumour (percent of core involvement), and rising PSA. Those diagnosed with T2 disease and had >25.0% of core involvement, and a PSA velocity greater than 1 ng/mL per year is at particular risk for more rapid disease progression and, for this reason, should be counselled on the importance of following the recommended surveillance regimen. For half of these men, their disease will have 'progressed' according to biopsy results in 2 years.

Acceptability of telephone support as perceived by patients with cancer: A systematic review

Telephone-based interventions can increase accessibility to healthcare and are increasingly used as a convenient method of providing support. We conducted a systematic review of published literature reporting adult patients' perceptions of the acceptability of, and satisfaction with, telephone-based interventions during or post-treatment for cancer. Systematic searches identified 4,855 articles. Forty-eight articles describing 50 studies were included in the review. Three intervention categories were identified post hoc: (1) telephone follow-up in lieu of routine hospital follow-up, (2) telephone interventions for treatment side-effect monitoring and toxicity management supplementary to usual care, and (3) supplementary psycho-educational telephone interventions. Across studies, some consistent findings emerged. Positive perceptions emphasised the convenience of telephone interventions and increased accessibility to care. Conflicting perceptions of the quality of the support received, the impact of telecare on the patient-healthcare professional relationship and the need for such interventions emerged. In conclusion, the evidence base relating to patients' perceptions of telephone-based interventions is increasing. Interpretation of findings is currently limited by methodological limitations in the primary research. The instruments chosen to assess patient satisfaction quantitatively do not always reflect the patient-centred priorities that emerge from qualitative data. Subsequent research would benefit from well-designed qualitative studies and patient-centred outcome measures to ensure that the individuality of participants' positive and negative experiences is captured.

Use of the Distress Thermometer in a cancer helpline context: Can it detect changes in distress, is it acceptable to nurses and callers, and do high scores lead to internal referrals?

PURPOSE

To improve understanding about; (1) the validity of the Distress Thermometer (DT) as a measure of changes in distress after a cancer helpline call, (2) the impact of a helpline call on callers' distress, (3) caller and helpline nurses' comfort with use of the DT, and (4) the extent to which DT scores over the critical threshold, are associated with referral to internal support services for follow-up psychosocial care.

METHODS

Callers (people diagnosed with cancer and their family/friends: N = 100) completed a questionnaire that included DT ratings (three time-points), the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and measures of comfort with the DT tool. Nurses recorded referrals to internal services and their comfort in using the DT in each call.

RESULTS

The DT correlated with the DASS-21 depression (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.56, p < 0.001) and stress (r = 0.64, p < 0.001) subscales demonstrating validity. Callers' self-rated distress was significantly lower after the call, regardless of gender or caller type (F(2, 97) = 63.67, p < 0.01, partial eta squared = 0.57). Over 74% of people diagnosed with cancer, 80% family/friends and 89.3% of nurses felt comfortable with DT use. Only 16% of participants were referred on to follow-up internal support services despite 90% of people with cancer and 75% of family/friends' DT scores' suggesting they required follow-up care.

CONCLUSIONS

The DT is a valid and acceptable tool for use by cancer helplines. Improved documentation of referrals is required to better understand referral patterns.

Development, validation and evaluation of an instrument for active monitoring of men with clinically localised prostate cancer: systematic review, cohort studies and qualitative study

Background

Active surveillance [(AS), sometimes called active monitoring (AM)],is a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-recommended management option for men with clinically localised prostate cancer (PCa). It aims to target radical treatment only to those who would benefit most. Little consensus exists nationally or internationally about safe and effective protocols for AM/AS or triggers that indicate if or when men should move to radical treatment.

Objective

The aims of this project were to review how prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been used in AM/AS programmes; to develop and test the validity of a new model for predicting future PSA levels; to develop an instrument, based on PSA, that would be acceptable and effective for men and clinicians to use in clinical practice; and to design a robust study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the instrument.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted to investigate how PSA is currently used to monitor men in worldwide AM/AS studies. A model for PSA change with age was developed using Prostate testing for cancer and Treatment (ProtecT) data and validated using data from two PSA-era cohorts and two pre-PSA-era cohorts. The model was used to derive 95% PSA reference ranges (PSARRs) across ages. These reference ranges were used to predict the onset of metastases or death from PCa in one of the pre-PSA-era cohorts. PSARRs were incorporated into an active monitoring system (AMS) and demonstrated to 18 clinicians and 20 men with PCa from four NHS trusts. Qualitative interviews investigated patients’ and clinicians’ views about current AM/AS protocols and the acceptability of the AMS within current practice.

Results

The systematic review found that the most commonly used triggers for clinical review of PCa were PSA doubling time (PSADT) < 3 years or PSA velocity (PSAv) > 1 ng/ml/year. The model for PSA change (developed using ProtecT study data) predicted PSA values in AM/AS cohorts within 2 ng/ml of observed PSA in up to 79% of men. Comparing the three PSA markers, there was no clear optimal approach to alerting men to worsening cancer. The PSARR and PSADT markers improved the modelc-statistic for predicting death from PCa by 0.11 (21%) and 0.13 (25%), respectively, compared with using diagnostic information alone [PSA, age, tumour stage (T-stage)]. Interviews revealed variation in clinical practice regarding eligibility and follow-up protocols. Patients and clinicians perceive current AM/AS practice to be framed by uncertainty, ranging from uncertainty about selection of eligible AM/AS candidates to uncertainty about optimum follow-up protocols and thresholds for clinical review/radical treatment. Patients and clinicians generally responded positively to the AMS. The impact of the AMS on clinicians’ decision-making was limited by a lack of data linking AMS values to long-term outcomes and by current clinical practice, which viewed PSA measures as one of several tools guiding clinical decisions in AM/AS. Patients reported that they would look to clinicians, rather than to a tool, to direct decision-making.

Limitations

The quantitative findings were severely hampered by a lack of clinical outcomes or events (such as metastases). The qualitative findings were limited through reliance on participants’ reports of practices and recollections of events rather than observations of actual interactions.

Conclusions

Patients and clinicians found that the instrument provided additional, potentially helpful, information but were uncertain about the current usefulness of the risk model we developed for routine management. Comparison of the model with other monitoring strategies will require clinical outcomes from ongoing AM/AS studies.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Psychosocial Oncology Supports for Men: A Scoping Review and Recommendations

Although men's cancer experiences have received limited attention within the field of psychosocial oncology, increasing attention is being devoted to the development and evaluation of men-centered programs. This scoping review describes this emergent body of literature, detailing the focus, participation, and impact of interventions designed to help men with cancer build illness-specific knowledge, adapt to illness, manage side effects, distress, and uncertainty, sustain relationships, and more. Striving to build on existing knowledge, research gaps and opportunities are discussed, including a need for stronger methodologies, more tailored and targeted supports, attention to the experiences of men with nonprostate cancers, and the explicit integration of gender analyses in the research process.

The Personal Patient Profile-Prostate decision support for men with localized prostate cancer: a multi-center randomized trial

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this trial was to compare usual patient education plus the Internet-based Personal Patient Profile-Prostate, vs. usual education alone, on conflict associated with decision making, plus explore time-to-treatment, and treatment choice.

METHODS

A randomized, multi-center clinical trial was conducted with measures at baseline, 1-, and 6 months. Men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer (CaP) who sought consultation at urology, radiation oncology, or multi-disciplinary clinics in 4 geographically-distinct American cities were recruited. Intervention group participants used the Personal Patient Profile-Prostate, a decision support system comprised of customized text and video coaching regarding potential outcomes, influential factors, and communication with care providers. The primary outcome, patient-reported decisional conflict, was evaluated over time using generalized estimating equations to fit generalized linear models. Additional outcomes, time-to-treatment, treatment choice, and program acceptability/usefulness, were explored.

RESULTS

A total of 494 eligible men were randomized (266 intervention; 228 control). The intervention reduced adjusted decisional conflict over time compared with the control group, for the uncertainty score (estimate -3.61; (confidence interval, -7.01, 0.22), and values clarity (estimate -3.57; confidence interval (-5.85,-1.30). Borderline effect was seen for the total decisional conflict score (estimate -1.75; confidence interval (-3.61,0.11). Time-to-treatment was comparable between groups, while undecided men in the intervention group chose brachytherapy more often than in the control group. Acceptability and usefulness were highly rated.

CONCLUSION

The Personal Patient Profile-Prostate is the first intervention to significantly reduce decisional conflict in a multi-center trial of American men with newly diagnosed localized CaP. Our findings support efficacy of P3P for addressing decision uncertainty and facilitating patient selection of a CaP treatment that is consistent with the patient values and preferences.

Intervening to improve psychological outcomes for men with prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the Western world with well-described negative effects from treatments. However, outcomes are highly heterogeneous. A Phase 3 trial of a psycho-educational intervention was undertaken, aiming to reduce cancer-specific and decision-related distress and improve quality of life for men newly diagnosed with localised prostate cancer.

METHODS

Seven hundred forty (81.7%) men were recruited after diagnosis and before treatment and randomised to a tele-based nurse-delivered five-session psycho-educational intervention (N = 372) or usual care (N = 368). Participants were assessed before treatment and 2, 6, 12 and 24 months post-treatment. Outcome measures included cancer-specific and decision-related distress, cognitive judgmental adjustment, subjective well-being, and domain-specific and health-related quality of life. Social support was assessed as a potential moderator.

RESULTS

No unconditioned effects were found. Classification analyses on pre-randomisation measures distinguished three subgroups: younger, higher education and income men (N =  90); younger, lower education and income men (N = 106); and older men (N = 344). Younger, higher education and income men showed positive intervention effects for cancer-specific distress (p = 0.008) and mental health (p = 0.042). By contrast, for younger, lower education men, participation in the intervention was associated with decreases in cognitive judgmental adjustment over time (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Response to intervention and adjustment over time varied according to previous sexual functioning, age, educational level and income. How to best intervene with younger, low education, low income men with prostate cancer is a critical future research question.

Symptoms of acute posttraumatic stress disorder in prostate cancer patients following radical prostatectomy

Psychological morbidity is increasingly reported in cancer survivors. The authors' objective was to determine the presence of acute posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in prostate cancer (PC) patients following radical prostatectomy. Fifteen patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer were assessed for the presence of PTSD-related symptoms by completing the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), a month following the procedure. A group of 20 patients who underwent surgery for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) served as the control group. PTSD total scores were significantly higher in PC patients when compared with BPH patients, whose PTSD scores did not differ from those reported in the general population (32.6 ± 18.5 vs. 11.3 ± 9.7, p = .001). PTSD did not vary among PC patients when adjusted for educational status. PTSD symptoms are common among patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and independent of their educational level. Research investigating these aspects of posttreatment psychological adjustment is needed for developing well-targeted psychological interventions.

ProsCan for men: randomised controlled trial of a decision support intervention for men with localised prostate cancer

Background

Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the Western world but is highly heterogeneous in disease progression and outcomes. Consequently, the most substantial morbidity may actually arise from the adverse psychosocial impact of distress in decision-making and long term quality of life effects such as impotence. This paper presents the design of a randomised controlled trial of a decision support/psychosocial intervention for men newly diagnosed with localised prostate cancer.

Methods/Design

350 men per condition (700 men in total) have been recruited after diagnosis and before treatment through urology private practices and hospital outpatient clinics and randomised to 1) a tele-based nurse delivered five session decision support/psychosocial intervention or 2) a usual care control group. Two intervention sessions are delivered before treatment that address decision support, stress management and preparation for treatment. Three further sessions are provided three weeks, seven weeks and five months after treatment that focus on adjustment to cancer, problem solving and coping with treatment side effects. Participants are assessed at baseline (before treatment) and 2, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months post-treatment. Outcome measures include: cancer threat appraisal; decision-related distress and bother from treatment side effects; involvement in decision making; satisfaction with health care; heath care utilisation; use of health care resources; and a return to previous activities.

Discussion

The study will provide recommendations about the efficacy of early decision support to facilitate adjustment after prostate cancer. As well the study will identify men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer at risk of poorer long term psychosocial adjustment.

Trial Registration

ACTRN012607000233426.

The decision-related psychosocial concerns of men with localised prostate cancer: targets for intervention and research

PURPOSE

To describe decision-related psychosocial issues relevant for men with clinically localised prostate cancer.

METHODS

Searches were conducted across three electronic databases to search the health and psychological literature for articles examining decision-related psychosocial issues for men with localised prostate cancer and their partners. Medline, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases were examined for the period from 1990 to December 2007.

RESULTS

Most men with localised prostate cancer want active involvement in decision-making. Difficulty in making the decision is common and decision-related distress may persist over time. Cancer-specific psychological distress (such as fear of recurrence but not overall anxiety) appears to be related to changes in PSA levels; and this distress influences treatment pathways. Decision support interventions are acceptable to men, improve knowledge and might reduce decision and cancer-related distress. However, the quality of intervention studies to date is low.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should seek to involve men and their partners in treatment decision making concurrent with decision and psychological support. There is a need for high quality randomised control trials to identify the optimal approach to decision support for men with clinically localised prostate cancer.