Exploring Men’s Experiences with Follow-Up Care following Primary Treatment for Prostate Cancer in Atlantic Canada: A Qualitative Study

Author:

Urquhart Robin123ORCID,Scruton Sarah2,Radford Samantha2,Kendell Cynthia4,Hirsch Elias2

Affiliation:

1. Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada

2. Cancer Outcomes Research Program, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9, Canada

3. Department of Surgery, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9, Canada

4. Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada

Abstract

Prostate cancer is a common and life-altering condition among Canadian men, yet little is known about how follow-up care is provided to those who have completed treatment. Despite improving survival rates, survivors experience ongoing needs and are often not provided with support to manage them. This study sought to investigate the post-treatment experiences and needs of prostate cancer survivors and to determine if and how these needs are being met. Using a qualitative description design, prostate cancer survivors who had completed treatment took part in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded and analyzed thematically. The participants experienced varying levels of satisfaction with their follow-up care. While primary care providers played significant roles, continuity of care and specialist involvement varied. Most participants felt unprepared to manage the long-term effects of their cancer due to a lack of information and resources from their healthcare providers. Instead, participants turned to their peers for support. Ongoing physical and psychosocial needs went unmet and had significant impacts on their daily lives. Participants felt that support for these issues should be automatically integrated into their follow-up care. In summary, this study revealed the importance of integrated, patient-centered follow-up care for prostate cancer in Atlantic Canada.

Funder

Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute

Publisher

MDPI AG

Reference50 articles.

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2. Canadian Cancer Society (2023, November 24). Prostate Cancer Statistics. Available online: https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/prostate/statistics.

3. Hewitt, M., Greenfield, S., and Stovall, E. (2005). From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, National Academies Press.

4. Canadian Cancer Society (2023, November 24). Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019. Available online: https://cdn.cancer.ca/-/media/files/research/cancer-statistics/2019-statistics/canadian-cancer-statistics-2019-en.pdf.

5. Identifying the unmet supportive care needs of men living with and beyond prostate cancer: A systematic review;Paterson;Eur. J. Oncol. Nurs.,2015

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