Patient Preferences for Outcomes Associated With Surgical Management of Prostate Cancer
Abstract
The purpose of this project is to assess patient preferences for health states following radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. Approximately 430 community volunteers enrolled in a prostate cancer screening study were diagnosed with localized prostate cancer from 1994 through 1997 and opted for radical prostatectomy. We have previously evaluated function and bother in this cohort with regard to urinary and sexual domains. Based on these data, we have stratified our cohort into three groups: (1) men bothered by both their current urinary and sexual functioning, (2) men bothered by their current sexual functioning, but not urinary functioning, and (3) men not bothered by either. We have randomly selected approximately equal 50 men from each group (total N = 155) and have assessed preferences for current health states as utilities (i.e., the proportion of remaining life expectancy men would be willing to trade to have ideal health rather than current health). Preliminary analysis indicate lower utilities for men bothered by both current and sexual functioning. Rational decision making in the setting of prostate cancer detection and treatment requires comparing the potential benefits of screening with the potential harms. Because utilities measure the gain in length of life needed to offset undesirable health states, they provide a formal method for characterizing that tradeoff.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA385694
Entities
People
- William Catalona
Organizations
- Washington University in St. Louis