title: A prospective analysis of patient-reported quality of life after prostate brachytherapy.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess the patient-reported quality of life (QOL) and changes in QOL during the first 3 months after prostate brachytherapy (PB). Seventy-four men treated with PB between September 1997 and December 1998 completed a QOL questionnaire (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate [FACT-P]) and a measurement of urinary symptoms (International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS]) before treatment (T0), 1 month (T1), and 3 months (T3) following PB. All participants were treated with (125)I alone. The mean score (and standard deviation) at T0, T1, and T3 FACT-P questionnaire are as follows: 139.2 (15.7), 125.4 (20.2), and 133.0 (18.2). For the global test across time, statistically significant differences were observed for the cumulative scores of FACT-P (P < .0001). Examination of the subscales within the FACT-P instrument demonstrated statistically significant changes over time for the following: physical well-being, functional well-being and the prostate cancer subscale. The mean score (and standard deviation) at T0, T1, and T3 for the IPSS questionnaire are as follows: 9.1 (5.9), 20.0 (7.8), and 16.6 (7.2). For the global test across time, statistically significant differences were observed for the IPSS scores (P < .0001). Clinically meaningful decreases in QOL are evident within weeks after PB. Moderate to severe urinary symptoms persist for at least 3 months following PB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1030, USA.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: McQuellon
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: McCullough
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000523:psychology