Satisfaction with nurse-led telephone follow up for low to intermediate risk prostate cancer patients treated with radical radiotherapy. A comparative study

Abstract

Purpose of the research: As the number of men living with prostate cancer is increasing worldwide, the requirement for follow up care also grows. This study was undertaken to evaluate nurse-led, telephone follow up, for men with low to intermediate risk prostate cancer treated with radical radiotherapy when compared with medical follow up.

Methods and sample: A non-randomized, two-cohort, comparative study. 169 men diagnosed with prostate cancer were recruited from outpatient clinics at a tertiary cancer centre in Australia. 83 men were recruited to cohort 1 (control) (51 low to intermediate risk; 32 high risk) and 86 to cohort 2 (intervention) (51 low to intermediate risk; 35 high risk). High risk patients, regardless of cohort, received medical follow up. Low to intermediate risk patients in cohort 2 were triaged to nurse-led review for their six month review appointment. Nurse-led follow up consisted of six monthly telephone consultations and PSA testing.

Measures: Participants completed the Satisfaction with Consultation Scale, the Brief Distress Thermometer and the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite.

Key results: There was no statistically significant difference in patient satisfaction on any of the study measures between the nurse-led and standard medical follow up at six months following treatment completion. However, where there was a trend towards significance (p=0.051), it favoured the nurse-led follow up regimen.

Conclusions: Nurse-led telephone consultation provides an acceptable model of follow-up for men diagnosed with low to intermediate risk prostate cancer. Multi-centre randomised controlled trials are needed to support the efficacy of nurse-led, telephone follow up services.