Factors associated with the use of complementary and lifestyle therapies (CALTs) by long term prostate cancer survivors as a result of their prostate cancer diagnosis — ASN Events
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  3. Factors associated with the use of complementary and lifestyle therapies (CALTs) by long term prostate cancer survivors as a result of their prostate cancer diagnosis

Factors associated with the use of complementary and lifestyle therapies (CALTs) by long term prostate cancer survivors as a result of their prostate cancer diagnosis (#707)

Sam Egger 1 , Suzanne Hughes 1 , Suzanne Chambers 2 , David Smith 1 , Carole Pinnock 3 , Annette Moxey 4 , Dianne O'Connell 1
  1. Cancer Council NSW, Woolloomooloo , NSW, Australia
  2. Griffith Health Executive, Griffith University , QLD, Australia
  3. Urology Unit, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, SA, Australia
  4. Research Centre for Gender Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Aims
To investigate relationships between CALT use by long term prostate cancer survivors, and demographic and clinical characteristics and psychosocial and health related quality of life (HRQOL) measures.

Methods
1513 men diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000-2001 (from the NSW Prostate Cancer Care and Outcomes Study) were invited to complete a questionnaire about their current use of CALT for prostate cancer and/or treatment side effects, 10 psychosocial and 10 HRQOL domains and current demographic and clinical information. The aim was 800 responses. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained from logistic regression for CALT use and demographic and clinical characteristics and per one standard deviation increase in psychosocial and HRQOL scores.

Results
996 (66%) men completed the questionnaire; 924 with complete data were included in these analyses. 231 men (25%; 95%CI 22 28) currently used CALT for prostate cancer. CALT users were more likely to be younger (p-trend=0.003), university educated (vs. high school educated OR 1.61; 95%CI 1.11 2.33), regular support group participants (vs. no participation 6.50; 2.48 17.03), overseas born (1.51; 1.02 2.23), have more health insurance (p-trend=0.036), received androgen deprivation therapy (1.90; 1.24 2.92), have decreasing PSA levels (vs. steady levels 2.37; 1.29 4.35) and higher stage disease at diagnosis (p-trend=0.003). CALT use was associated with higher scores for fear of recurrence (1.28; 1.06 1.55), cancer specific distress (1.18; 1.01 1.37), hyperarousal (1.17; 1.00 1.36), cognitive avoidance (1.19; 1.02 1.40), anxiety (1.19; 1.02 1.41) and cancer locus of control (1.31; 1.10 1.57) but not with intrusive thinking, depression, treatment satisfaction or any HRQOL measures.

Conclusions
Health professionals should be aware that a substantial proportion of long term prostate cancer survivors use CALTs for prostate cancer and that multiple psychosocial, clinical and demographic factors are associated with this use.