Ames, S.C., Tan, W.W., Ames, G.E., Stone, R.L., Rizzo, T.D., Jr., Crook, J.E., . . . Rummans, T.A. (2011). A pilot investigation of a multidisciplinary quality of life intervention for men with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 20, 435–440.
To evaluate the acceptability and estimate the effect size of a multidisciplinary quality-of-life intervention for men with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer
The intervention involved eight multidisciplinary group sessions consisting of education, goal setting, relaxation training, problem solving, social support, physical activity, and mood management.
Biochemical relapse phase
A randomized controlled trial design was used.
The results did not provide strong support for a meaningful effect of the intervention provided here on anxiety or quality of life in patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. Findings suggest that this type of intervention is acceptable to the patient population, since there was a high rate of attendance.
Given the lack of durability, the intense, multidisciplinary nature of this intervention may not be the best use of limited resources. Further, such a multidisciplinary intervention may be difficult to replicate in the community setting.