title: [Quality of life after prostate cancer in members of support groups: first results of the HAROW retro study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The HAROW project was founded by the Stiftung Männergesundheit to have a closer look at the situation of patients who suffer from prostate cancer, especially focusing on their situation regarding supply and services.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current study 504 members of support groups were asked about their health-related quality of life (QOL). Standardized questionnaires were used to ensure the validation. Both the diagnosis and initial therapy dated back at least 12 months. The EORTC QLQ-C30 as well as the prostate-specific module (PSM) were used as questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Various forms of therapies proved to have different impacts on QOL. Patients with a combined hormonal therapy and radiation therapy evaluated their QOL worse than others with different forms of therapies. Patients with cured tumors reported significantly better data than those in the middle of therapy or the uncured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data even indicate that their QOL is similar to people living under normal circumstances and health situations. Particular characteristics however exist on specific scales. Patients attending support groups show surprisingly high values for QOL.
authors.affiliation: Wissenschaftliches Institut der Techniker Krankenkasse für Nutzen und Effizienz im Gesundheitswesen, Hamburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bestmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kollakowski
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weissbach
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome