Other: Links between frequency of painful symptoms, self-efficacy, and quality of life after prostate cancer treatment: Experiences of African American men

Abstract

Men who have undergone surgical and radiation treatment for prostate cancer report a number of treatment side effects across a wide range of symptom domains, including sexual, urinary, bowel, and hormonal symptoms. All of these symptom domains have a pain component which may contribute to reduced quality of life for prostate cancer survivors. However, few studies have examined the relationship between painful treatment side effects and quality of life among prostate cancer survivors and even less is known about the symptom experiences of African American prostate cancer survivors. To address these gaps in the research literature we explored the following in a sample of African American prostate cancer survivors: 1) the association between frequency of pain symptoms and quality of life, and 2) the association between self-efficacy for symptom control and painful symptoms. Participants were 40 African American men (mean age 61.4 years, SD 8.8) participating in a study examining psychosocial functioning following treatment for prostate cancer. Measures collected from survivors included a pain symptoms subscale consisting of items from the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite, subscales of the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire, and the Self-Efficacy for Symptom Control Inventory, a measure of self-efficacy for symptom management, carrying out physical activities despite symptoms, and coping with symptoms. We hypothesized that 1) more frequent pain symptoms would be associated with lower quality of life in the areas of physical functioning and mental health, and 2) prostate cancer survivors who reported higher self-efficacy would report less frequent pain symptoms. Results of correlational analyses indicated that men who reported more frequent pain symptoms also reported lower quality of life in the areas of physical functioning and mental health, as was hypothesized. Results also supported the hypothesis that survivors who reported higher self-efficacy for symptom management also reported less frequent pain symptoms Men who have undergone surgical and radiation treatment for prostate cancer report a number of treatment side effects across a wide range of symptom domains, including sexual, urinary, bowel, and hormonal symptoms. All of these symptom domains have a pain component which may contribute to reduced quality of life for prostate cancer survivors. However, few studies have examined the relationship between painful treatment side effects and quality of life among prostate cancer survivors and even less is known about the symptom experiences of African American prostate cancer survivors. To address these gaps in the research literature we explored the following in a sample of African American prostate cancer survivors: 1) the association between frequency of pain symptoms and quality of life, and 2) the association between self-efficacy for symptom control and painful symptoms. Participants were 40 African American men (mean age 61.4 years, SD 8.8) participating in a study examining psychosocial functioning following treatment for prostate cancer. Measures collected from survivors included a pain symptoms subscale consisting of items from the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite, subscales of the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire, and the Self-Efficacy for Symptom Control Inventory, a measure of self-efficacy for symptom management, carrying out physical activities despite symptoms, and coping with symptoms. We hypothesized that 1) more frequent pain symptoms would be associated with lower quality of life in the areas of physical functioning and mental health, and 2) prostate cancer survivors who reported higher self-efficacy would report less frequent pain symptoms. Results of correlational analyses indicated that men who reported more frequent pain symptoms also reported lower quality of life in the areas of physical functioning and mental health, as was hypothesized. Results also supported the hypothesis that survivors who reported higher self-efficacy for symptom management also reported less frequent pain symptoms