Improving quality of life in men with prostate cancer: a randomized controlled trial of group education interventions

Abstract

Men who were recently treated for prostate cancer (N=250) were randomly assigned to a control group, a group education intervention (GE), or a group education-plus-discussion intervention (GED). Both GE and GED increased prostate cancer knowledge. In the year postintervention, men in the GED condition were less bothered by sexual problems than men in the control condition, and they were more likely to remain steadily employed (93.0%) than men in the GE (75.6%) or control (72.5%) conditions. Among noncollege graduates, GED and GE resulted in better physical functioning than the control condition, and GED resulted in more positive health behaviors than the control or GE condition. Among college graduates, controls were comparable with the GE and GED groups in physical functioning and positive health behaviors.

Figure 1

Mean percentage correct plus standard errors in prostate cancer quiz as a function of experimental condition and patient educational status. Higher scores indicate better performance.

Figure 2

Mean level of positive health behaviors plus standard errors as a function of experimental condition and educational status. Higher scores indicate healthier lifestyles.

Figure 3

Mean level of general physical functioning plus standard errors as a function of experimental condition and educational status. Higher scores indicate better general physical functioning.

Figure 4

Percentage employed part time or full time as a function of experimental condition and time.