ABSTRACT
Objectives
To evaluate possible discrepancies between patients’ expectations concerning sexual
side effects related to prostate cancer treatment, based on the obtained information
prior to treatment. Moreover, to determine if demographic or clinical factors may
have an effect on the accuracy of patients’ expectations concerning sexual side effects
after treatment.
Methods
A multicenter, cross-sectional survey was performed among men treated with prostatectomy,
brachytherapy, external-beam radiotherapy and/or hormonal therapy.
Results
In total, 412 questionnaires were analyzed. Of men with sexual side effects after
treatment, 1 in 3 (32.5%, n = 109) reported their complaints as worse than expected; significantly more often
reported by men treated surgically (P = .001), men with a local stage tumor (P = .005) and by men with a lower prostate-specific antigen level at diagnosis (P = .046). It was significantly less often reported by men treated with radiotherapy
combined with hormonal therapy (P = .031). Men who used brochures as an information source reported their sexual side
effects significantly less often as worse than expected (P < .001).
Conclusion
One in three men with sexual side effects after prostate cancer treatment, experienced
their complaints as worse than expected based on the obtained information prior to
treatment. Men treated with radiotherapy combined with hormonal therapy indicated
less discrepancy between expectations and developed sexual side effects, whereas prostatectomy,
low stage tumor and low prostate-specific antigen level were associated with more
discrepancy. Brochures should be administered additionally to verbal information to
improve patients’ understanding of possible sexual side effects and to enhance the
accuracy of patients’ expectations.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 05, 2019
Accepted:
August 29,
2019
Received:
January 5,
2019
Footnotes
Author Contributions: All authors have made substantial contributions to all of the following: (1) the conception and design of the study, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, (3) final approval of the version to be submitted.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no competing interests to declare.
Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
