Mental Wellbeing in Prostate Cancer: a Qualitative Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Quality of Life and Mental Wellbeing in Prostate Cancer Treatment and Survivorship: A Qualitative Study
IRAS ID
275292
Contact name
Kamran Ahmed
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 5 days
Research summary
The effect of diseases such as prostate cancer on mental health is being increasingly acknowledged. Prostate cancer is often slowly progressive and places unique strains on patients, particularly due to the treatment options currently available, which can have a profound impact on the hormones of the body. Because of this, it is known prostate cancer patients have high rates of depression and anxiety, with worse survival rates seen in patients who suffer from these conditions at the same time. Despite this, the depth of knowledge we possess about these unique issues is not sufficient. Additionally, the tools currently available to detect the problems seen are not designed specifically for prostate cancer patients. There is therefore a need for further investigation into these issues through more detailed and in-depth research in prostate cancer patients, which can then subsequently lead to better detection of problems and therefore better care for these patients.
To do this we will conduct interviews of prostate cancer patients who have already been allocated a treatment group at two large London urology centres (King's College Hospital and Guy's Hospital). These will explore commonly encountered issues during and after prostate cancer treatment. These will include problems such as depression, anxiety, body image issues and fear of cancer worsening or coming back. Furthermore, current tools which aim to identify these problems will be discussed to assess their suitability for prostate cancer patients. By recording and subsequently analysing these interviews common themes will be identified which are seen amongst patients. This is expected to be undertaken for a duration of two years. This can subsequently be used to guide clinicians on issues encountered by patients presenting at their clinics and additionally in the future development of new tools to detect problems during follow up.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0070
Date of REC Opinion
12 Mar 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion