Treatment decision-making and treatment experiences in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

For the most advanced stage of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), several life-prolonging treatments have become available over the past decade. Treatment decision-making (TDM) and experiences in this phase are yet to be studied. Hence, this study aimed to describe men's satisfaction with TDM and treatment experiences during the first 12 months of a life-prolonging treatment of mCRPC.

This prospective study included 104 men with mCRPC who started and remained on the same life-prolonging treatment for 12 months. They received a questionnaire on TDM, treatment experiences, and well-being every 3 months. Correlation analyses explored associations between satisfaction with TDM at baseline and treatment experiences and well-being over time.

The participants (median age: 77 years) generally reported high satisfaction with physician- and nurse communication and confidence/trust at baseline (>55% reported the highest satisfaction in all questions), but lower satisfaction with communication regarding how the treatments could affect them - up to 40% reported not having talked about that at all. Treatment experiences and physical- and emotional well-being remained stable over time. Associations were found between satisfaction with TDM at baseline and how they rated the treatment as a whole at six months, and well-being at six and 12 months. In mCRPC, men's TDM preferences need to be explored, and shared decision-making needs to be facilitated when considering treatment. Furthermore, clinicians need to discuss how the treatment might affect patients' everyday lives when discussing life-prolonging treatments with them.