Effects of type of treatment and risk group on quality of life and information in patients with prostate cancer

Abstract

Objective: to determine the differences in the quality of life and the information of thepatients with prostate cancer according to the treatment and the risk group, and assess its associationwith sociodemographic and clinical variables. Method: Between 2015-2016, 176 men with prostatecancer, selected at random, who had received local treatments, hormonal or combined, were evaluatedthrough interviews and the questionnaires EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-PR25 and EORTC QLQINFO25.Results: The quality of life was more damaged on the physical, role, social and sexual scalesin the advanced risk group and those treated with hormone therapy. The prostatectomy was producingmore urinary problems, and the combined treatments, more hormonal symptoms. Those treated withradiation therapy considered the information more useful and felt more informed about the disease,medical tests and treatments than those receiving hormonal treatment, and they were more satisfied thanthose treated with prostatectomy. The elderly or those with basic studies received less information andconsidered it was less useful. Conclusions: The quality of life is satisfactory and the symptomatologyis low. Men at advanced risk and/or those who receive hormone therapy have a higher deficit in theirquality of life. The information is deficient, especially in men with urinary problems and those withworse quality of life. There is little or no information in the “other services”, “places of care” and“self-care guide”. It is necessary to evaluate and treat the most vulnerable men. In addition, it would bedesirable to introduce a system of training on information for medical professionals.