Achieving optimal delivery of follow-up care for prostate cancer survivors: improving patient outcomes

Abstract

Background

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the US, and the second most prevalent cancer in men worldwide. High incidence and survival rates for prostate cancer have resulted in a large and growing population of long-term prostate cancer survivors. Long-term follow-up guidelines have only recently been developed to inform approaches to this phase of care for the prostate cancer population.

Methods

A PubMed search of English literature through August 2014 was performed. Articles were retrieved and reviewed to confirm their relevance. Patient-reported measures that were used in studies of long-term prostate cancer survivors (ie, at least 2 years posttreatment) were reviewed and included in the review.

Results

A total of 343 abstracts were initially identified from the database search. After abstract review, 105 full-text articles were reviewed of which seven met inclusion criteria. An additional 22 articles were identified from the references of the included articles, and 29 were retained. From the 29 articles, 68 patient-reported outcome measures were identified. The majority (75%) were multi-item scales that had been previously validated in existing literature. We identified four main areas of assessment: 1) physical health; 2) quality of life – general, physical, and psychosocial; 3) health promotion – physical activity, diet, and tobacco cessation; and 4) care quality outcomes.

Conclusion

There are a number of well-validated measures that assess patient-reported outcomes that document key aspects of long-term follow-up with respect to patient symptoms and quality of life. However, there are fewer patient-reported outcomes related to health promotion and care quality within the prevention, surveillance, and care coordination components of cancer survivorship. Future research should focus on development of additional patient-centered and patient-related outcomes that enlarge the assessment portfolio.

Keywords:

• prostate cancer
• patient-reported outcomes
• follow-up care
• cancer survivorship
• systematic review

Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported through a career development award to Dr Hudson (K01 CA131500) from the National Cancer Institute and a Doctoral Training Grant in Oncology Social Work (DSW 13-279-01) from the American Cancer Society awarded to Ms O’Malley. It was additionally supported by National Cancer Institute grants R01 CA176838 and R01 CA158019 awarded to Drs Hudson and Miller and Cancer Center Support Grants P30 CA072720 and P30 CA06927 to the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Fox Chase Cancer Center. We thank our research interns Andrew Barra, Herman Chadha, Cara Kubinak, and Veronica Vargas for their assistance and attention to detail while screening abstracts.

Disclosure

None of the authors have any potential conflicts of interest to disclose.