title: Prostatectomy: information provision and education for patients.
abstract: Following the diagnosis of prostate cancer, information should be imparted to ensure an informed decision regarding treatment can be made. The impact of a cancer diagnosis could lead men to opt for surgical intervention without fully understanding the consequences of treatment. Effective communication of evidence-based information can assist men to fully understand the consequences of treatment. Radical prostatectomy, whether robotically assisted laparoscopic or retropubic, will lead to quality-of-life issues with functional outcomes such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence being at the forefront. Issues should be discussed and communicated in depth so that frustration and regret following treatment are avoided. A cautious approach to information provision should be considered so the patient does not feel in a position of information overload. Advanced communication skills are of utmost importance to ensure information is tailored to suit individual needs, as no one model of information giving suits all. This article is a rapid literature search relating to post-prostatectomy functional outcomes and how communication and information giving before treatment assists with acceptance of treatment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Uro-Oncology Nurse Specialist, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006113:United Kingdom; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Functional outcomes; Information giving; Patient education; Prostate cancer; Quality of life; Radical prostatectomy