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Published on: August 1, 2019
Evaluating a Tailored Web-Based eHealth Intervention for Symptom Management in Couples Managing Prostate Cancer
Lixin Song1, Christine Rini2, Yuexia Zhang1
1School of Nursing and Mays Cancer Center, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, United States, 1 210 450 8561.
The Prostate Cancer Education and Resources for Couples (PERC) eHealth intervention showed exploratory benefits for patients and partners, including improved physical quality of life (QOL) and reduced fatigue, despite no significant difference in the primary outcome. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Health Services Research
- Digital Health
Background:
- Prostate cancer (PCa) treatments can cause long-term complications affecting patients' and partners' quality of life (QOL).
- Supportive care interventions are needed to address the needs of both patients and their partners.
- Localized PCa affects a significant number of men annually, necessitating effective survivorship care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the Prostate Cancer Education and Resources for Couples (PERC) eHealth intervention.
- To improve QOL and symptom management for patients with localized PCa and their partners.
- To assess the impact of an eHealth intervention on physical, sexual, psychosocial, and general symptom domains.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 280 dyads (patients with PCa and their partners).
- Intervention group received the PERC eHealth platform (modules, forum, resource toolbox); control group received standard information.
- Validated questionnaires assessed QOL (FACT-G) and psychosocial outcomes at baseline and 4, 8, and 12 months.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in the primary outcome (FACT-G total score) between groups.
- Patients in the PERC group reported improved physical QOL, less fatigue, lower pain, and better illness appraisal.
- PERC partners reported less urinary symptom bother at 8 months.
Conclusions:
- The PERC intervention demonstrated exploratory benefits for patients and partners, suggesting potential for targeted improvements in QOL domains.
- The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted overall QOL, potentially masking primary outcome differences.
- Larger studies are warranted to confirm the observed benefits of the PERC eHealth intervention.
