A Psychosocial Care Model for Men with Prostate Cancer
Maintaining Vigilance through routine screening of men for distress, and referral to Evidencebased Survivorship Interventions to address psychosocial needs where required, are essential to optimal cancer survivorship care. Psychosocial care is now well accepted as integral to oncology care. The International Standard of Quality Cancer Care developed by the International Psycho-Oncology Society states that quality cancer care must integrate the psychosocial domain into routine care and that distress should be measured as the 6th Vital Sign after temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration and pain5. Several countries have developed clinical practice guidelines and standards to guide such care in adults with cancer26-30. However, to date, maintaining Vigilance through screening for distress and referral to Evidence-based Survivorship Interventions for psychosocial care has not been systematically implemented in prostate cancer care. We have worked with experts in prostate cancer care to produce a Psychosocial Care Model for Men with Prostate Cancer. The following sections summarise research about men’s psychological responses to prostate cancer; the importance of maintaining Vigilance by screening for distress; the influence of life course and masculinities on the Personal Agency of men and their helpseeking behaviours; and current evidence about Evidence-based Survivorship Interventions to improve mental well-being in men with prostate cancer. Recent resources have been developed discussing the needs and concerns of gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer31,32. While this monograph focuses on men with prostate cancer, it is acknowledged that the partners of men with prostate cancer often experience high
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psychological distress and should also be provided with targeted and gender-sensitive supports. It is envisaged that health care professionals operationalise Personal Agency, Shared Management and Care Coordination by applying the Psychosocial Care Model for Men with Prostate Cancer as a practical guide to developing a care plan in their setting that utilises local services and links to other services in the acute and community sectors. Each aspect of the Psychosocial Care Model for Men with Prostate Cancer should be considered within the broader Prostate Cancer Survivorship Essentials Framework1.
