Prostate cancer and quality of life: Analysis of the response shift from a triangulation between methods

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of this paper is to describe the changes in the quality of life (QoL) in a group of men with prostate cancer. The three mechanisms involved in the response shift correspond to the reconceptualization, reprioritization and recalibration. Material and methods. Proposed methodology is based on sequential triangulation between methods. To study the same empirical unit it combines two strategies of research: quantitative and qualitative. Results. We identified a significant decrease in QoL between the pretest and posttest period. The recalibration mechanism with the Thentest confirms that the QoL is low in all the periods evaluated. Conclusions. The results confirm that QoL in prostate cancer is low in all the periods evaluated. Coping with the disease differs between the subgroup of young men and the subgroup of older men.