The impact of inadequate knowledge on patient and spouse experience of prostate cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe the impact of patient knowledge and awareness of prostate cancer on their medical process from initial symptom detection to post treatment. Although research is gradually increasing in relation to prostate cancer, limited attention has been paid to the impact of inadequate knowledge on patient and spouse experience of the medical process despite the often complex and varied nature of the disease trajectory, treatment, and outcomes. An in-depth focus group design that incorporates open-structured questions was used to identify the attitudes and experiences of a sample of 12 prostate cancer patients and spouses. The findings of this study show that inadequacies in patient and spouse knowledge and awareness of prostate cancer contributed to delayed contact, shock at diagnosis, preferences regarding decision making, health judgments, including the use of the Prostate Specific Antigen test and physical well-being as accurate health indicators, and patient coping, incorporating the use of comparison with other patients. In conclusion, hospital staff, in particular the consultant and cancer nurse specialist, must be aware of the potential for inadequacy in patient and spouse knowledge and counter this through the provision of accurate and relevant information and support throughout the medical process. A series of recommendations have been generated.