Quality-of-life evaluation in patients receiving treatment for advanced prostate cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quality-of-life (QOL) experience in patients who are receiving treatment for advanced prostate cancer and the relationship between response to that treatment and QOL. DESIGN: Descriptive comparative study, repeated measures. SETTING: Medical oncology clinic in a comprehensive cancer center. SAMPLE: 33 patients receiving treatment for advanced prostate cancer. METHODS: Patient self-administered questionnaires and chart review. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Response to therapy and QOL. FINDINGS: No significant differences were seen in patients at the baseline evaluation. Patients who demonstrated response to therapy based on declining prostate specific antigen levels, however, demonstrated a significant increase in their QOL scores compared to those patients who were not responding to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although significant differences in survival at this stage of prostate cancer in patients who receive therapeutic treatment versus those who do not have yet to be demonstrated, there appears to be a benefit in QOL for those patients who respond to therapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: These data support the use of QOL measurements in patients undergoing treatment for advanced prostate cancer. This information can be used in discussions with patients who are facing treatment decisions and who are concerned about the impact of treatment on their overall QOL. The data also stimulate questions for future research on QOL in this population, such as the difference in QOL in those patients who choose therapeutic treatment versus those who do not.