Establishment of a Rehabilitation Center for Patients with Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in Iran and is the third most common cancer in male population. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the necessity and efficacy of establishing a specific rehabilitation center for patients with prostate cancer. Methods: In this basic-applied research, we proposed the establishment of a rehabilitation center to support and decrease the complications of various treatments in patients with prostate cancer. After entering the rehabilitation process, a well-educated nurse and general physician trained in one of the similar European centers supported the patients to help themselves cope with unresolvable symptoms. To evaluate the patients’ satisfaction with the services offered by this rehabilitation center, the patients were asked to fill the Prostate Cancer-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire seven months after the first session. Results: In this study, 133 patients with prostate cancer (71 persons in the control group and 62 persons in the conservative treatment group) underwent the analysis. The participants’ mean age was 62.8 ± 2.31 years in the control group and 63.3 ± 4.54 years in the treatment group (P = 0.613). Moreover, the participants’ mean lifestyle scores were 5.3 ± 2.5 and 5.8 ± 2.8 in the control and treatment groups before the supportive care, respectively (P = 0.460). However, following the intervention, the scores were 5.3 ± 2.1 and 7.6 ± 1.9 in the control and treatment groups, respectively (P = 0.001). The mean lifestyle score was significantly higher after supportive care in the treatment group (P = 0.001). Conclusions: A prostate cancer-specified rehabilitation center providing supportive care by an educated healthcare professional can significantly improve the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer.