Informational needs of men with prostate cancer on hormonal manipulation therapy

Prostate cancer is a significant health care issue worldwide and the global incidence of this disease is predicted to treble by 2018. The mainstay of treatment for men with locally advanced prostate cancer is hormonal manipulation therapy (hmt), which has undesirable side effects such as impotence. To help individuals cope with a diagnosis of cancer, research has found that specific information is required. A descriptive exploratory study was undertaken to assess the knowledge and informational needs of a sample of men with locally advanced prostate cancer on hmt in the United Kingdom (UK). Results illustrated that these men had knowledge deficits coupled with a great desire for information regarding their disease and treatment. This study identified that these men required more information and it helps to address the apparent neglect of this subject in the domain of prostate cancer research. Through recognition of the informational needs of this patient group, methods of delivering evidence-based educational interventions in the clinical domain could be promoted. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.