Prostate Cancer - Patient Empowerment Program

In a survey study of almost 400 survivors of prostate cancer (PC), we found that 17% of them suffered currently from mental health issues, and most were not on medication to address this issue. Compounding issues included urinary and sexual disfunction, poor attendance to support groups, intimacy, problems sleeping and other health problems. To address these many issues directly, with the endorsement of physicians and patients attending our regional PC integrative care conference (April 2018) and expanding on pre-habitation (pre-surgery) science, we created a Patient Empowerment Program (PEP) to be delivered from day one of diagnosis, to educate and teach the men and partners life skills/habits which are aimed to improve their fitness levels and quality of life, and to decrease treatment related side effects. This program is in line with the Auditor General of Nova Scotia's 2017 report endorsing the use of bottom-up evidence-based interventions, created from actively engaging patients in development and process. We aim to trial PC-PEP for men undergoing curative treatment for PC versus a control group receiving standard care. The PC-PEP program includes in-person and multimedia informational, physical activity, pelvic floor, stress reduction, and relationship/connection training. The men are connected with other participants to increase social support and maximize compliance. We use technology to deliver daily alerts to patients to remind them to engage in the program. A PC-PEP feasibility study of 30 men, over 28 days, showed that the program is feasible, leads to positive outcomes in patients and is highly (9.79/10) endorsed by patients. We propose a Randomized Clinical Trial assessing PC-PEP over 6 months from day one of diagnosis. We predict that PC-PEP will improve mental health (primary outcome) and other quality of life outcomes of patients compared with 'usual care'. This is a randomized, wait-list controlled clinical trial for men newly diagnosed with PC and undergoing curative surgery and/or radiotherapy. The PEP group will receive the intervention for six months (early intervention) while the wait-list group will start the same program at the end of this intervention (late intervention; for six months). Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, six and twelve months. The primary outcome is mental health measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10 questionnaire) at the end of the intervention period. Multiple secondary endpoints include urinary, bowel and sexual function, fitness levels, fatigue, sleep, intimacy/sexuality concerns, relationship satisfaction, social support and surrogates of medical costs (e.g., number of visits to medical professionals). Introducing a comprehensive empowerment program from day 1 of diagnosis may mitigate against the high levels of mental distress short and long-term suffered by hundreds of Nova Scotian men undergoing curative PC treatment every year, and the burden treatment related side effects will place on our health care system. Given that the study has the endorsement of patients, clinicians and administrators at NSHA, if proven successful it will have the evidence base needed to change the current standard of care.