Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among Latiné men, with over 17,000 new cases yearly. While most men live with the disease rather than die from it, ensuring quality of life is crucial in treatment decisions. Latiné men face unique decision-making challenges due to low health literacy, barriers to healthcare access, and cultural differences in treatment understanding and communication. Decision aids that consider patient values and cultural nuances like familismo are essential for effective shared decision-making.
Despite the significance of racial and ethnic disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, research has been limited, especially among Latiné populations. The CEASAR study highlighted the need for more inclusive research, showing no significant outcome differences across racial groups but underrepresenting Latiné men. The Urology Care Foundation has provided Spanish-language resources, yet there's a gap in materials discussing treatment choices in the context of sexual, bowel and urinary health post-treatment.
This gap underlines the necessity for research focused on the Latiné community's perspectives on prostate cancer survivorship, particularly concerning erectile dysfunction, bowel function and urinary function. This study aims to fill this void through focus groups to better understand Latiné men's views and enhance patient education and shared decision-making. A Spanish-language educational video informed by these insights will address the critical need for culturally and linguistically appropriate resources, bridging the information gap for Spanish-speaking survivors
