Work

A Noninterventional, Cross-Sectional Study to Assess Patient Prostate Cancer Treatment Preferences and Experiences in Europe

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist injection frequency does not affect prostate cancer treatment efficacy; however, it may influence treatment satisfaction, adherence, and overall healthcare utilization. This study addressed the limited information available on real-world patient experience with GnRH treatments by surveying a diverse population of patients with prostate cancer in Europe. This noninterventional, cross-sectional study included adults with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Data were collected via a one-time self-administered electronic survey (October–December 2023) that assessed patient preferences for injection frequency, satisfaction, healthcare resource utilization, and involvement in treatment decision-making. Of 414 participants, 53.9% preferred a 6-month injection frequency, while 27.3% preferred a 3-month frequency. Among those receiving injections every 6 months, 77.0% were satisfied; 62.7% of those receiving injections every 3 months were satisfied. Two-thirds of participants (65.7%) were aware of different frequencies of injections. Among those who preferred a 3-month injection frequency, routine and perceived control over their disease were important factors, with 38.1% receiving injections at the same frequency as doctor visits. Among those preferring a 6-month frequency, convenience and routine were important; however, 7.2% indicated that their preference was based on a dislike or fear of injections. Of those with no preference, 60.3% indicated that this was because they deferred to their doctor’s advice. Most patients required transport to their injection appointment, and of those who were employed, 79.2% required time off from work. Accompaniment to an injection appointment was also important, with 66.2% of patients never attending alone. The high satisfaction rates, particularly among those receiving injections every 6 months, suggest that less-frequent injections may be more convenient and preferable for many patients. These insights can help to guide patient-centric care and treatment decisions in prostate cancer management. Prostate cancer affects many men around the world. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a hormone therapy used to treat prostate cancer that lowers the amount of testosterone and slows down the cancer’s growth. The ADTs that are used most often are gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist injections, given every 1, 3, or 6 months, depending on the type of injection. It is important to get patients’ opinions on their treatments to help to decide on the best care for each patient. We asked 414 patients from Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK how often they prefer to get their injections and how they feel about it. About half of the patients preferred getting their injections every 6 months instead of more often because it was easier and fitted into their routine. A smaller proportion of patients preferred getting their injections every 3 months, and the rest had no preference. Many things affected how often patients wanted their injections. Common factors for preferring the 6-month injection included the patient’s age, whether they were employed, and whether they were diagnosed with prostate cancer after 2020. The 3-month injections were mostly preferred by patients who had completed higher education and by those who were happy with their current frequency of injections. Our findings highlight that many different factors influence how often patients like to receive their medication and can help doctors to make better decisions about giving treatments that not only treat their patients’ prostate cancer but also consider the preferences of the patient.

Source: Advances in Therapy

DOI: 10.1007/s12325-025-03152-4