Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39037597›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2024

What is the nature and impact of cognitive difficulties following hormonal treatments for prostate cancer?: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Lorna Pembroke, Kerry A Sherman, Haryana M Dhillon, Heather Francis, Howard Gurney, David Gillatt

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Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lorna PembrokeLifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, Macquarie University, 2109, Sydney, NSW, Australia. lorna.huang@hdr.mq.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1666-9855
Kerry A ShermanLifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, Macquarie University, 2109, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7780-6668
Haryana M DhillonCentre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4039-5169
Heather FrancisSchool of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University & Macquarie University Hospital, 2109, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7223-7782
Howard GurneyMacquarie University Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University & Macquarie University Hospital, 2109, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0217-5261
David GillattMacquarie University Urology Clinic, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University & Macquarie University Hospital, 2109, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4581-9346

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveProstate cancer hormonal treatments (e.g. androgen deprivation therapy) yield clinical benefits. However, there is increasing evidence these treatments may adversely impact cognitive functioning. This study aimed to qualitatively characterise the nature and impact of cognitive difficulties following these treatments.

methodsProstate cancer survivors (PCS) self-reporting cognitive difficulties following hormonal treatments (via an online survey) and their partners were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Telephone or videoconferencing interviews were conducted, then transcribed, double-coded and analysed using the Framework Method, following the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

resultsEleven participants (six PCS and five partners) were interviewed. PCS reported a range of cognitive difficulties, verified by their partners, including forgetfulness, "fogginess", fatigue and slowed processing speed. For some PCS, word-finding difficulties, tangential speech and memory problems were apparent during interviews. The aetiology of the reported cognitive difficulties was unclear as it was attributed to a possible combination of cancer treatments, compounding side-effects (e.g. fatigue, sleep problems, hot flashes), exacerbation of pre-existing conditions and/or age-related changes. Cognitive difficulties were reported to have led to shifts in self-perception, interpersonal dynamics and increased emotionality. Engagement in cognitively-stimulating activities and reliance on compensatory strategies were reported to be helpful in managing some cognitive difficulties. All participants endorsed the potential benefits of neuropsychological intervention.

conclusionsThere are a diverse range of cognitive difficulties following hormonal treatments for prostate cancer experienced by PCS and their partners. Understanding the impact of these difficulties is important for the development of targeted neuropsychological interventions.

Indexed as

Androgen AntagonistsCancer SurvivorsProstatic NeoplasmsAgedAntineoplastic Agents, HormonalCognitive DysfunctionHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchSurveys and QuestionnairesAndrogen AntagonistsAntineoplastic Agents, HormonalCancer survivorshipCognitionProstate cancerQualitative researchRehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID39037597
PMCPMC11263254

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.