Changes in Body Image in Patients with Prostate Cancer over 2 Years of Treatment with a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogue (Triptorelin): Results from a Belgian Non-Interventional Study

Body image in patients with prostate cancer undergoing treatment with hormone therapy: Observational study using both a cross-sectional and longitudinal design

This study aims to examine changes in body image (BI) over time and factors related to BI among patients with prostate cancer who receive hormone therapy (HT). A cross-sectional design and longitudinal design were utilized. Patients with prostate cancer who received HT were recruited from the urology outpatient departments in two hospitals in Taiwan between August 2017 and December 2020. Cross-sectional data were collected from 177 patients who had started HT for prostate cancer. Longitudinal data were collected from 34 newly diagnosed patients before receiving HT and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after HT. The variables measured included hormonal symptoms and distress, self-efficacy, and BI. The results showed that BI dissatisfaction ranged from 6.1% to 17.2%. Hormonal symptoms and distress (e.g. lack of vitality) were correlated with BI dissatisfaction. Education on the side effects of HT and coping strategies can be provided to patients to prevent BI dissatisfaction.

A systematic review of tools used to assess body image, masculinity and self-esteem in men with prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

Masculinity, body image and self-esteem are important interlinked factors affecting prostate cancer (PCa) patients' quality of life. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate all tools measuring these domains in men with PCa.

METHODS

This review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines with a priori protocol registered. Pubmed, Embase, Medline and Psychinfo were searched from inception to May 2020. Studies using a predefined tool which measured any body image, self-esteem or masculinity construct in men with PCa were included, as well as validation studies of these. Reliability, validity and responsiveness of tools identified were objectively evaluated against the COSMIN taxonomy of measurement properties.

RESULTS

From 1416 records screened, a final 46 studies consisting of 17 different tools were included in the systematic review. Seven tools were identified assessing body image, nine masculinity and one self-esteem, varying widely in their number of items, possible responses and domains assessed. Most tools had evaluated internal consistency through Cronbach's alpha analysis; however, structural and discriminative validity, and responsiveness were lacking for many. Additionally, only one tool identified was specifically developed and evaluated in patients with PCa: The Masculinity in Chronic Disease Inventory.

CONCLUSIONS

Numerous tools have been used for the measurement of body image, masculinity and self-esteem in men with PCa. However, few were developed specifically for these patients. More research is therefore needed to ascertain specific factors affecting these outcomes in PCa patients, so valid, reliable and clinically relevant tools can be developed.