Psychosocial mechanisms of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence of prostate cancer survivors

• Published in: Journal of psychosocial oncology Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 210 - 227
• Main Authors: Zhang, Amy Y., Burant, Christopher, Fu, Alex Z., Strauss, Gerald, Bodner, Donald R., Ponsky, Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 03-03-2020; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Aged; Behavior modification; Behavior Therapy; Cancer; Cancer Survivors - psychology; Cancer Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Clinical trials; Humans; Intervention; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Participation; pelvic floor muscle exercises; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - therapy; Research subjects; Self Efficacy; Social Support; Survivor; Treatment Outcome; Urinary incontinence; Urinary Incontinence - psychology; Urinary Incontinence - therapy; social support; prostate cancer; urinary incontinence; pelvic floor muscle exercises; self-efficacy
• ISSN: 0734-7332; 1540-7586
• DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2019.1678547

Purpose: We examined underlying psychosocial processes of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) of prostate cancer survivors.
Design: Secondary analysis of data collected from a clinical trial.
Sample: Two hundred forty-four prostate cancer survivors who participated in a clinical trial of behavioral intervention to UI as intervention or control subjects.
Methods: The participants had a 3-month behavioral intervention or usual care and were followed up for an additional 3 months. They were assessed at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Latent growth curve models were performed to examine trajectories of each study variable and relationships among the variables.
Findings: Increasing self-efficacy and social support were significantly and independently associated with more reduction of urinary leakage frequency over time.
Implications for psychosocial oncology: Providing problem-solving skills and social support, including peer support, are essential for empowering patients to reduce UI.