Prostate cancer (PCa) accounts for 20% of new cancer cases and 10.5% of cancer-associated mortality in Portugal. Associated risk factors include advanced age, family history, genetic alterations, and race/ethnicity. However, the role of lifestyle factors is often underestimated. To explore health professionals’ perceptions of PCa risk factors, a qualitative study with three focus groups (FG), with a total of twenty-one general practitioners and urologists, was conducted via videoconference between February and April 2023. Seven themes emerged, including general perceptions of PCa; PCa risk factors; nutritional impact; the role of physical activity; alcohol consumption and smoking; sexual activity and sexually transmitted diseases roles in PCa; and screening, diagnosis, and treatment methods. Despite agreeing that healthy lifestyles could promote better PCa outcomes and quality of life, participants did not specify any lifestyle factors that could promote or prevent this disease, posing challenges to lifestyle changes, particularly among older adults. Non-invasive screening methods, such as biomarkers and alternative treatments, are crucial for future research. This study underscores the need for further investigation into the correlation of lifestyle factors with PCa and highlights the necessity of health professionals in encouraging their patients to adopt healthier lifestyles, while offering important insights into awareness, prevention, and alternative screening, diagnosis, and treatment methods, which could help reduce false positives and treatment side effects.
前列腺癌在葡萄牙占新发癌症病例的20%和癌症相关死亡率的10.5%。相关风险因素包括高龄、家族史、基因改变和种族/民族。然而，生活方式因素的作用常被低估。为探究医疗专业人员对前列腺癌风险因素的认知，本研究于2023年2月至4月期间通过视频会议开展了三个焦点小组的质性研究，共纳入21名全科医生和泌尿科医师。研究归纳出七大主题：对前列腺癌的总体认知、前列腺癌风险因素、营养影响、体力活动的作用、饮酒与吸烟行为、性活动及性传播疾病在前列腺癌中的作用，以及筛查、诊断与治疗方法。尽管参与者认同健康生活方式可改善前列腺癌预后及生活质量，但未能明确列举可能促进或预防该疾病的具体生活方式因素，这为生活方式干预（特别是对老年群体）带来挑战。生物标志物等无创筛查方法及替代治疗方案对未来研究至关重要。本研究强调需进一步探究生活方式因素与前列腺癌的关联性，指出医疗专业人员在促进患者采取健康生活方式中的关键作用，同时为疾病认知、预防及筛查、诊断、治疗的替代方案提供重要见解，有助于减少假阳性结果及治疗副作用。
Health Professionals’ Perceptions about Prostate Cancer—A Focus Group Study
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家