MacDonald Cody, Ilie Gabriela, Kephart George, Rendon Ricardo, Mason Ross, Bailly Greg, Bell David, Patil Nikhilesh, Bowes David, Wilke Derek, Kokorovic Andrea, Rutledge Robert D H
Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9, Canada.
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 1V7, Canada.
Cancers (Basel). 2024 Jun 27;16(13):2352. doi: 10.3390/cancers16132352.
Understanding how interventions reduce psychological distress in patients with prostate cancer is crucial for improving patient care. This study examined the roles of self-efficacy, illness perceptions, and heart rhythm coherence in mediating the effects of the Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) on psychological distress compared to standard care. In a randomized controlled trial, 128 patients were assigned to either the PC-PEP intervention or standard care. The PC-PEP, a six-month program emphasizing daily healthy living habits, included relaxation and stress management, diet, exercise, pelvic floor muscle exercises, and strategies to improve relationships and intimacy, with daily activities supported by online resources and live sessions. Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in self-efficacy and specific illness perceptions, such as personal control and emotional response, compared to the control group. These factors mediated the relationship between the intervention and its psychological benefits, with self-efficacy accounting for 52% of the reduction in psychological distress. No significant differences in heart rhythm coherence were observed. This study highlights the critical role of self-efficacy and illness perceptions in enhancing psychological health in prostate cancer patients through the PC-PEP. The results underscore this program's effectiveness and the key mechanisms through which it operates. Given the high rates of distress among men undergoing prostate cancer treatments, these findings emphasize the importance of integrating the PC-PEP into clinical practice. The implementation of the PC-PEP in clinical settings can provide a structured approach to reducing psychological distress and improving overall patient well-being.
了解干预措施如何减轻前列腺癌患者的心理困扰对于改善患者护理至关重要。本研究探讨了自我效能感、疾病认知和心律协调性在介导前列腺癌患者赋权计划（PC - PEP）与标准护理相比对心理困扰影响方面的作用。在一项随机对照试验中，128名患者被分配到PC - PEP干预组或标准护理组。PC - PEP是一个为期六个月的项目，强调日常健康生活习惯，包括放松和压力管理、饮食、运动、盆底肌肉锻炼以及改善人际关系和亲密感的策略，日常活动由在线资源和现场课程提供支持。与对照组相比，干预组患者在自我效能感和特定疾病认知（如个人控制感和情绪反应）方面有显著改善。这些因素介导了干预与其心理益处之间的关系，自我效能感占心理困扰减轻的52%。未观察到心律协调性有显著差异。本研究强调了自我效能感和疾病认知在通过PC - PEP增强前列腺癌患者心理健康方面的关键作用。结果强调了该项目的有效性及其运作的关键机制。鉴于接受前列腺癌治疗的男性中困扰发生率较高，这些发现强调了将PC - PEP纳入临床实践的重要性。在临床环境中实施PC - PEP可以提供一种结构化方法来减轻心理困扰并改善患者整体幸福感。
