Discussion
depression, prostate cancer, anxiety, ’
DISEASE, PROSTATE CANCER, PROSTATE
Based on the literature, social cognitive theoryThe results of this study showed that, compared with patients in the CG, patients in the MIG improved slightly in terms of positive thinking and prostate cancer-specific QOL at 8 weeks and 12 weeks after pre-test as well as general QOL at 8 weeks after pre-test; however, this improvement was not statistically significant. A previous study on patients with prostate cancer who exhibited the symptom of hot flushes after receiving hormone therapy and who were provided group-based cognitive behavioral intervention once a week for 4 weeks presented similar findings. The results showed that the intervention did not significantly improve the depression, anxiety, or overall QOL of the patientsSocial support is an important factor in improving patients’ self-efficacy and positive transitionThe results of this study showed that the self-efficacy of patients in the MIG and CG was similar at 8 weeks and 12 weeks after pre-test. It decreased and was lower in the MIG than in the CG at 8 weeks, however, and then slightly increased and was higher than that in the CG at 12 weeks. The results are similar to those of previous studies on patients with localized prostate cancer who were receiving surgery or radiationIn addition, accumulated achievements based on a successful experience is one means to improve self-efficacyWithin two to three years after patients with prostate cancer underwent primary hormone therapy, the disease may progress to androgen-independent prostate cancer, which compels healthcare providers to adjust the treatment formulaIn this study, disparities in pre-test basic attributes between MIG and CG included differences in the timing of diagnosis, annual household income, and employment status. Previous research has documented that economic status is a factor that affects individuals’ positive thinking and QOLInterestingly, this study found that MIG exhibited improved scores at the 8 weeks following the pre-test but experienced a slight decline at the 12 weeks across multiple variables, including positive thinking and QOL (general QOL, prostate cancer-specific QOL, and hormone symptoms and distress). In contrast, CG demonstrated slight improvements in these QOL scores at both the 8 and 12 weeks after the pre-test. This phenomenon may be attributed to the longer time since diagnosis for CG. Over time, patients tend to adapt to the changes brought about by the disease and develop coping strategies