This short paper summarizes the complications of ADT and, as such, covers much of the same ground (but in an abbreviated fashion) that is covered in the ADT class and book. Given its brevity, the paper focuses more on recounting ADT side effects than it does on the breadth of management strategies. However, the authors share with the ADT Educational Program team the belief that it is important to educate patients ahead of time about the challenges of ADT.
The paper is written specifically for nurses and concludes that “nurses must [themselves] be educated on the indications [for] and side effects of ADT. Moreover, nurses should provide evidence-based interventions to alleviate side effects….”
One can disagree with a few of the assertions in this paper that are not backed by references. Certain recommendations may reflect differences in the patient population and clinical approach in different parts of the world. For example, the paper is written by authors in Europe and it assumes that the patients are being treated by “multidisciplinary teams”. Such a team approach is more common in Europe than in North America.
The paper does not consider the benefit of group educational programs, like our ADT classes, compared to nurses educating ADT patients in individualized one-on-one sessions. That individual approach is more labour-intensive (and presumably more expensive) than the group classes offered by the LIFEonADT team. It would be interesting to know whether the individual approach is significantly more effective in meeting patients’ needs than group classes. We look forward to that type of research to find out what is the best way to help the most patients given limited resources.
It’s one thing to say that we need to educate patients; it’s another to know what educational approach is most effective.
To read the study abstract, see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32773255/
Fankhauser CD, Wettstein MS, Reinhardt M, Gessendorfer A, Mostafid H, Hermanns T. Indications and Complications of Androgen Deprivation Therapy [published online ahead of print, 2020 Aug 6]. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2020;151042. doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2020.151042