Body image perceptions in men with prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To describe changes in body image among men with prostate cancer who were either prescribed androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) or were ADT naive and to explore the relationship of age, duration of therapy, and body mass index with body image perception.


METHODS
Exploratory and descriptive.


METHODS
Ambulatory care clinic of a large urban Veterans Affairs medical center.


METHODS
132 men 60 years of age or older with prostate cancer recruited from the oncology and urology outpatient departments.


METHODS
Participants completed a demographic survey and the Body Image Scale (BIS), an instrument developed to measure changes in body image. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to explore body image dissatisfaction.


METHODS
Body image and ADT.


RESULTS
A significant difference in body image dissatisfaction existed between men who had received ADT and men who were ADT naive. No relationship was identified between age and body image dissatisfaction or between duration of therapy and body image dissatisfaction. A significant positive relationship was found between body mass index and body image dissatisfaction for the sample overall.


CONCLUSIONS
A greater degree of body image dissatisfaction existed in the men who received ADT as compared to those who were ADT naive.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients receiving ADT for prostate cancer may be at greater risk of body image dissatisfaction. The psychometric performance of the BIS lends support to its continued use in this population.
Harrington
Joanne M
JM
Hematology-Oncology Division, Phoenix Veterans Administration Health Care System, Arizona, USA. joanne.harrington@va.gov
Jones
Elaine G
EG
Badger
Terry
T
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001130:Arizona; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology
D000726:Androgen Antagonists