Depression and Health-Related Quality of Life and Their Association With Resourcefulness in Survivors of Prostate Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the determinants of depressive symptoms (DSs) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in survivors of prostate cancer (PC).

METHODS: This study used a descriptive, correlational design to assess a sample of 133 individuals with PC. The participants were face-to-face interviewed to collect demographic data and disease characteristics, assess self-control schedule, and survey health status. Correlation analysis, Student's t-test, ANOVA, and regression analysis were applied.

RESULTS: Over half the patients had depressive symptoms, and 96.1% had erectile dysfunction. Lack of resourcefulness was found to decrease PC-specific quality of life (PCQOL) and physical quality of life (PQOL). The participants who were more resourceful showed a better mental quality of life (MQOL) and PQOL (r=0.53**; r=0.41**) and fewer DSs (r=-0.52**). Most participants were stage II and IV, and there were significantly different effects on PQOL and MQOL related to cancer stage. Regarding the different outcomes of various therapies, the findings suggested that survivors of PC who underwent radical prostatectomy were more likely to have a better MQOL than those who underwent other treatments. In addition, resourcefulness had mediating effects on pain, PQOL/MQOL, and DSs in the patients with PC.

CONCLUSIONS: Good mental health and resourcefulness can help patients with PC reduce pain and enhance positive thinking and may augment PQOL and MQOL.