The decision-related psychosocial concerns of men with localised prostate cancer: targets for intervention and research.
OBJECTIVE
To describe decision-related psychosocial issues relevant for men with clinically localised prostate cancer.


METHODS
Searches were conducted across three electronic databases to search the health and psychological literature for articles examining decision-related psychosocial issues for men with localised prostate cancer and their partners. Medline, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases were examined for the period from 1990 to December 2007.


RESULTS
Most men with localised prostate cancer want active involvement in decision-making. Difficulty in making the decision is common and decision-related distress may persist over time. Cancer-specific psychological distress (such as fear of recurrence but not overall anxiety) appears to be related to changes in PSA levels; and this distress influences treatment pathways. Decision support interventions are acceptable to men, improve knowledge and might reduce decision and cancer-related distress. However, the quality of intervention studies to date is low.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians should seek to involve men and their partners in treatment decision making concurrent with decision and psychological support. There is a need for high quality randomised control trials to identify the optimal approach to decision support for men with clinically localised prostate cancer.
Steginga
Suzanne K
SK
Programs and Research, The Cancer Council Queensland, School of Psychology, Griffith University, PO Box 201, Spring Hill, QLD 4004 Australia. suzannesteginga@cancerqld.org.au
Turner
Emma
E
Donovan
Jenny
J
D035843:Biomedical Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010358:Patient Participation; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy