Acceptability of a nurse-led survivorship intervention for men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy: A qualitative exploratory study

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the acceptability of a five-session, nurse-led, survivorship intervention for men with prostate cancer receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT), delivered via a specialist prostate cancer telehealth service.

Methods

A qualitative exploratory study using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. The study was undertaken in an established Australian specialist prostate cancer tele-nursing service. Study participants were men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer who: (i) were about to start or were within 3 months of commencing ADT; (ii) had a treatment plan for at least 12 months of continuous ADT; (iii) had no current psychiatric illness or history of head injury and/or dementia; and (iv) had no other concurrent cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). A purposive sampling strategy was used for recruitment.

Findings

Nineteen participants took part in semi-structured interviews, comprising men who had completed the program (n = 18) and the nurse who had delivered it (n = 1). Overall acceptability was high across all constructs of the TFA, and particularly strong across the domains of ethicality and self-efficacy. Quality of design, structure and content was seen as highly favourable, as was the strength of the therapeutic relationship that developed between the nurse and the participants. Clinically, the program delivered sizeable gains in knowledge about ADT impact on physical, psychological, and sexual wellbeing, and confidence to identify and proactively manage side effects.

Conclusions

Findings from this study suggest that a nurse-led, psychoeducation program for men on ADT is highly acceptable, with great potential for implementation at scale via a national specialist nursing program.