What It Would Take for Men to Attend and Benefit from Support Groups After Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer: A Problem-Solving Approach

Abstract

Twenty-nine incontinent prostate cancer patients learned Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises through biofeedback and were randomly assigned to a control group or a support group entailing six meetings over 3 months. The obtained consent rate (50%) is much higher than the previously reported rate for men (13%). The reasons for refusal were mainly due to actual barriers (48%) and less frequently due to psychological concerns (10.3%). Most support group participants (71.5%) attended five to six group meetings. The findings suggest that men are willing to attend support groups that focus on solving problems and that social supports help men improve continence and quality of life.