Providing audiotapes of primary adjuvant treatment consultations to men with prostate cancer: Impact on recall, mood, satisfaction, and quality of life

Abstract

8009 Background: Previously we reported on the benefits of providing audiotapes of primary adjuvant treatment consultations to women with newly diagnosed breast cancer (Hack et al; Proc ASCO 2001). The purpose of this multi-site, randomized controlled trial was to use similar methods to examine the efficacy of providing men with prostate cancer with an audiotape of their primary adjuvant treatment consultation. Methods: A total of 429 men and 15 oncologists from cancer centres in three Canadian cities participated. The men were block randomized to 1 of 4 consultation groups: 1. Standard Care Control Group - Consultation not audiotaped (n=113); 2. Patient not given audiotape (n=98); 3. Patient given audiotape (n=120); and 4. Patient offered choice of receiving the audiotape (n=94 accepted tape, n=4 declined tape). Patients completed the Decisional Role Preferences Scale (Degner) before and after the consultation, a measure of communication satisfaction post-consultation, and measures of decisional role, audiotape use, information recall, communication satisfaction, mood disturbance (Profile of Mood States), and prostate cancer-specific quality of life (FACT-P) at 3 months post-consultation. A feedback questionnaire was mailed to all participating oncologists. Results: Analyses of covariance showed that patients who received the consultation audiotape reported having had significantly more discussion about treatment side effects (p<.01), treatment alternatives (p<.05), and treatment and disease information in general (p<.05) than patients who did not receive the audiotape. Patients rated the audiotape intervention positively, with an average score of 83.0 out of 100. Fifty-six percent of oncologists stated that most, if not all, patients should be provided with an audiotape of their primary adjuvant treatment consultations. Conclusions: Audiotapes of primary adjuvant treatment consultations are rated beneficial by prostate cancer patients and their oncologists, and aid patients by facilitating perception of being informed of treatment alternatives and treatment side effects. No significant financial relationships to disclose.