Can a tailored telephone intervention delivered by volunteers reduce the supportive care needs, anxiety and depression of people with colorectal cancer? A randomised controlled trial.

Objective: The objective was to assess the effectiveness of a volunteer-delivered tailored telephone-based intervention in reducing prevalence of unmet supportive care needs, elevated levels of anxiety and depression among people with colorectal cancer over a 9-month period.

Methods: There were 653 participants who completed the baseline questionnaire and were randomised to usual care (n = 341) or intervention (n = 306). Three follow-up questionnaires were completed at 3-monthly intervals (response rates: 93%, 87%, 82%, respectively).

Predictors of psychosocial distress 12 months after diagnosis with early and advanced prostate cancer.

Objective: To assess psychosocial distress in patients with early (localised) and advanced (metastatic) prostate cancer (PCA) at diagnosis (Time 1) and 12 months later (Time 2), and identify psychosocial factors predictive of later distress.

Design, Participants And Setting: Observational, prospective study of 367 men with early (211) or advanced (156) PCA recruited as consecutive attendees at clinics at seven public hospitals and practices in metropolitan Melbourne between 1 April 2001 and 30 December 2005. Both groups completed questionnaires at Time 1 and Time 2.

Coping patterns and psychosocial distress in female partners of prostate cancer patients.

Background: With medical advances since the 1990s, a growing proportion of patients are living for many years with prostate cancer (PCA) and the consequences of its treatment.

Objective: The authors investigated the experience of being diagnosed with cancer and the effects of its treatment on patients' partners.

Method: The authors conducted an observational, longitudinal study of 103 couples facing the diagnosis of either localized (potentially curable) or metastatic (incurable) PCA at Time 1 and then 6 months later (Time 2).

Psychosocial adjustment in newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

Objective: To examine the psychological and social adjustment of men with early or advanced stage prostate cancer and to compare them with a matched group of cancer-free community volunteers.

Methods: A longitudinal observational study in which 367 men recently diagnosed with early (n=211) or advanced stage (n=156) prostate cancer were compared to 169 cancer-free men from the community, of similar age and residential area, using self-report measures of psychosocial adjustment.

Results: On the mental health subscales of the Short-Form 36-item Health Survey, men with advanced disease had lower vitality and social functioning than the other two groups, and lower mental health scores than the comparison group.

One-to-one volunteer support programs for people with cancer: a review of the literature.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of literature reporting on the use of volunteers in support programs for people with cancer.

Methods: PsycINFO, Medline and CINAHL were used to identify papers published up to April 2007 reporting one-to-one support programs using volunteers. Program data were extracted from the papers, which were rated on research quality and descriptions of the program, volunteers and support recipients.

Psychological adjustment of men with prostate cancer: a review of the literature.

Objective: Prostate cancer (PCA) is the most common malignancy and a major cause of death in men but, importantly, a substantial proportion will live for several years following diagnosis. However, they face the prospect of experiencing symptoms, side-effects of treatment and diminished quality of life. The patient's psychological adjustment is particularly complex, given the potential trajectory of the disease, from the point of diagnosis, with its immediate impact, to the phase of palliative care, with its attendant issue of facing mortality.

The psychosocial impact of prostate cancer on patients and their partners.

Objective: To assess the psychosocial impact of the diagnosis of either localised or metastatic prostate cancer (PCA) on patients and their female partners.

Design: Observational, prospective study at Time 1 and 6 months later at Time 2 of two groups of couples facing PCA. Time 1 was when patients were first diagnosed with histologically confirmed localised (potentially curable) PCA or metastatic (incurable) PCA.

Reducing the unmet needs of patients with colorectal cancer: a feasibility study of The Pathfinder Volunteer Program.

Goals Of The Work: Many cancer patients experience unmet needs and elevated levels of anxiety and depression. This paper describes a volunteer-delivered intervention to reduce the psychosocial needs of cancer patients and presents findings from a feasibility study of this intervention.

Materials And Methods: The telephone-based intervention, called the Pathfinder Program, involves the assignment of volunteers to patients to assist them in addressing their needs as identified in questionnaires.

Psychosocial adjustment of female partners of men with prostate cancer: a review of the literature.

Advances in prostate cancer treatments since the 1990s have led to a growing proportion of patients living with the effects of the cancer. Various challenges face the man and his partner from the point of learning of the diagnosis: deciding among numerous diverse treatment options, dealing with side-effects of treatment and possibly facing the terminal phase of the illness. This invariably has an impact on the patient's family and, in view of the older age group of men usually affected, the experience of a partner is particularly relevant.