Selecting interventions for a psychosocial support program for prostate cancer patients undergoing active...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychosocial Support
• Prostate Cancer Management

Background:

• Low-risk prostate cancer (LR-PCa) management often involves active surveillance (AS) due to similar cancer-specific survival rates compared to curative treatments.
• Active surveillance is cost-effective and minimizes treatment complications, but necessitates robust psychosocial support for patients.
• Limited research exists on psychosocial interventions tailored for men actively surveilling their LR-PCa.

Approach:

• A modified Delphi approach, adhering to the RAND/UCLA methodology, was employed to achieve stakeholder consensus on psychosocial interventions.
• Phase one involved literature reviews and an open survey to identify potential interventions.
• Phase two consisted of three consensus rounds, including a focus group, utilizing the IQ healthcare consensus tool to rate interventions and establish statistical consensus.

Key Points:

• 31 participants initially rated interventions, selecting six key areas.
• A focus group discussion refined understanding of 13 items in the second round.
• A third round with 23 participants led to the selection of seven additional interventions.

Conclusions:

• A consensus was reached on 13 interventions for a comprehensive psychosocial support program for men with LR-PCa on AS.
• These interventions span four domains: information and education (4), coping and support (3), physical wellbeing (1), and lifestyle (4).
• This structured approach ensures targeted psychosocial support, enhancing the active surveillance experience for prostate cancer patients.