A nurse-led mobile-based health coaching program promoted positive lifestyle changes that improved various parameters of metabolic syndrome in prostate cancer patients.
Prostate cancer patients are prone to adverse metabolic changes that stem from the physical effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). These changes include body fat accumulation and abnormal fasting glucose levels, with subsequent development of metabolic syndrome.
In this randomized interventional study, the authors aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness of a nurse-led mobile-based health education program in promoting a healthy lifestyle in prostate cancer patients on ADT. The study findings are published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research mHealth and uHealth.
Baseline Characteristics
The study included 22 participants in the control group and 22 participants in the experimental group. The mean age and monthly income of study participants was 68.83 ± 7.09 years and $3679.77 ± 4603.72, respectively. The majority of the participants were ex-smokers and the mean smoking duration was 16.13 ± 21.38 years. The most common comorbidities in the participants were cardiovascular diseases. Approximately 65% of the participants received ADT with an average duration of 40.63 ± 24.71 months. The mean Gleason score and levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 7.80 ± 0.98 and 0.07 ± 0.19 ng/ml.
Health Coaching Program and Lifestyle Scores
The baseline lifestyle scores were not significantly different between the control and experimental groups. The scores increased consistently in the experimental group; however, no consistent improvement was observed in the control group. These differences in the lifestyle scores were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001).
Health Coaching Program and Metabolic Syndrome Components
There were no significant differences in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome parameters, including systolic and diastolic blood presure, fasting blood sugar, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, between experimental and control groups before and after the health coaching program. However, in the experimental group, the body mass index and body weight decreased significantly after the health coaching intervention. This decline was greater in the experimental group compared to the control group.
Healthy Related Quality of Life
Compared to the control group, the experimental group participants reported a significant improvement in urinary obstructive and irritative domains of health-related quality of life.
Source:
Lee, K., Park, J., Oh, E. G., Lee, J. H., Park, C. G., & Choi, Y. D. (2024). Effectiveness of a Nurse-Led Mobile-Based health coaching program for patients with prostate cancer at high risk of metabolic syndrome: randomized waitlist controlled trial. Jmir Mhealth and Uhealth, 12, e47102. https://doi.org/10.2196/47102
