Teleconferencing as a Method of Educating Men About Managing Advanced Prostate Cancer and Pain

Abstract

Although prostate cancer is prevalent among older men in the United States today, the problems associated with diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation have received scant attention in the psychosocial community. Controversy surrounding the efficacy of treatment, the reputed equivalency of treatment options, socially unacceptable side effects, and debilitating bone pain in advanced disease can be overwhelming for this group of patients. An innovative, cost-effective, interdisciplinary educational intervention was developed to address these issues and was delivered to 107 men using the teleconferencing method. The hour-long program consisted of three segments: 25 minutes of medical information provided by an urologist, 25 minutes of information about pain management and psychosocial issues provided by a social worker, and 10 minutes of questions and answers. A posttest was administered by telephone after the intervention, and patients were asked to complete a mailed satisfaction survey. The authors offer several recommendations to others interested in conducting educational interventions through teleconferencing: for example, extending the question-and-answer period, administering a test before as well as after the conference, and making an effort to recruit African-American participants.