Comparison of the uncertainty level of radical prostatectomy recipients with or without psychological support.

The aim of this study is to measure the levels of uncertainty in radical prostatectomy (RP) recipients who have received psychological support in comparison with those who have not. RP is one of the most effective treatments for prostate cancer, but its complications may cause patients to have a sense of uncertainty. A questionnaire survey was conducted. Participants were recruited from two hospitals. Sixty-two participants who underwent an RP were recruited to the support group, and 43 participants were included in the non-support group. The support group of males received psychological support and the control group of males did not receive psychological support. A survey was developed and used to assess each male, at least 3 months after his RP. All subjects participated in the survey and self-reported using the Chinese version of the Mishel Uncertainty Illness Scale (MUIS). The reliability ( α) of the overall MUIS was 0·92 in this study. The mean level of the uncertainty score among the support group was 45·65 (SD = 10·81), and 80·47 (SD = 5·00) among the non-support group. Two-way anova showed that psychological support produced a significant effect ( F = 197·25, p < 0·001), which indicated that the males in the psychological support group expressed lower levels of uncertainty than males in the non-support group. The results suggest that offering psychological support is an effective nursing intervention that can decrease the levels of uncertainty in RP recipients. The feeling of uncertainty among post-RP patients is common. Urological nurses should therefore assume the responsibilities associated with the consequences of prostate cancer treatment, including understanding the treatment's relevant information, seeking appropriate nursing interventions and providing psychological support to decrease the level of uncertainty in RP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]