Introduction: Functional outcome and quality of life (QOL) domains are important outcomes after curative therapy for prostate cancer (PC).
Although useful for scientific purposes, QOL questionnaires may be too extensive for daily routine and single questions or interview assessed outcomes may be more practical alternatives. The QOL outcomes of these measures were compared.
Material and Methods: The QoL of patients undergoing Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) in our hospital were monitored before and after treatment using both brief standardized interview questions, as well as more extensive validated questionnaires. The interview questions address erectile function and urinary continence with only one question on each subject (both 4 response items). Questionnaires included a total of 74 questions (EORTC-QLQ-C30, EORTC-QLQ-PR25, IIEF-15, ICIQ-SF).
Results: In 925 RARP patients pre- and postoperative interview and questionnaire QOL data were available with a median follow up of 20 months. Improvement in both erectile function and continence scores occurred up till 2 years after the RARP for both interview and questionnaire based evaluations. On individual patient basis, interview scores poorly correlated with questionnaire-based domains for continence and erectile function. Single questions from the questionnaire showed better correlation with domain scores. Functional recovery of continence after one year was worse when assessed by questionnaire than interview evaluation. A decrease in physical (8%) and overall QOL (12%) after prostatectomy as assessed by the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire was better predicted by questionnaire-based than interview-based scores. Continence scores had a greater impact upon physical and overall QOL scores than erectile function scores.
Conclusion: Interview/assessed continence and erectile function outcome after RARP showed limited association with questionnaire-based evaluation and may overestimate functional recovery. Continence score for both interview and questionnaires were stronger correlated with physical and overall QOL than erectile function scores.
Written by:
van der Poel H, Tillier C, de Blok W, Acar C, van Muilekom E, van den Bergh R. Are you the author?
NKI, urology, plesmanlaan 121, 1066cx amsterdam, amsterdam, Netherlands.
Reference: J Endourol. 2013 Mar 20. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1089/end.2012.0735
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23514580
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