Assessing the Efficacy of a 28-Day Comprehensive Online Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) in Facilitating Engagement of Prostate Cancer Patients in Their Survivorship Care: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

A 28-day Prostate Cancer-Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) developed through patient engagement was successful at promoting mental and physical health. Thirty prostate cancer patients from Halifax, Canada participated in the 28-day PC-PEP intervention in early 2019. PC-PEP encompassed daily patient education and empowerment videos, prescribed physical activities (including pelvic floor exercises), a mostly plant-based diet, stress reduction techniques, intimacy education, social connection, and support. Quantitative exit surveys and semi-structured interviews (conducted in focus groups of ten) were used to assess perceived factors that facilitated or impeded adherence to the program. The program received high praise from the patients and was deemed extremely useful by the participating men, who rated it 9 out of 10. Patients expressed that the multifaceted, online, home-based nature of the program helped them adhere to it better than they would have had to a single or less comprehensive intervention. Feedback from the participants indicated that the program, when viewed as a whole, was perceived as greater than the sum of its individual parts. Furthermore, the program addressed various issues, including emotional vulnerability and distress, physical fitness, urinary incontinence, challenges in expressing emotions, perceived lack of control over healthcare decisions, emotional fragility, and hesitancy to discuss prostate cancer-related matters in social settings. Patients highly (9.6/10) endorsed integrating the program into the standard care regimen from the very beginning of diagnosis. However, challenges such as work commitments were noted. Patients’ high endorsement of PC-PEP suggests that its implementation into the standard of care from day one of diagnosis may be warranted.

PC-PEP, a Comprehensive Daily Six-Month Home-Based Patient Empowerment Program Leads to Weight Loss in Men with Prostate Cancer: A Secondary Analysis of a Clinical Trial

“…The success of PC-PEP is also attributed to patient activation, where daily video messages encourage patients to take an active role in their healthcare [ 42 ]. This includes participating in exercise, making informed dietary choices, and seeking social support.…”

“…This includes participating in exercise, making informed dietary choices, and seeking social support. Evidence of this activation is seen in both the early and late intervention groups, where participants exceeded the recommended weekly strength and aerobic exercise targets, reflecting their commitment to the program [ 13 , 14 , 42 ]. Importantly, the focus of the instructional content was not solely on weight loss but on fostering a lifestyle centred around healthy living.…”

“…By offering a practical approach to weight management and mental health support, PC-PEP can be easily integrated into existing clinical practices, enriching patient care with a comprehensive, patient-centred treatment component. In an era where holistic care is paramount, PC-PEP exemplifies the seamless inclusion of lifestyle interventions within oncological treatment protocols, affirming the importance of patient empowerment in enhancing recovery and overall health [ 8 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 42 ].…”