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

Purpose of the researchAs 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 sampleA 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.MeasuresParticipants completed the Satisfaction with Consultation Scale, the Brief Distress Thermometer and the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite.Key resultsThere 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.ConclusionsNurse-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.