Qualitative study on psychological experience in elderly patients with prostatic cancer after castration

Objective To explore the real psychological experience in elderly patients with prostatic cancer after castration and to offer reference for formulating targeted interventions. Methods Totally 15 elderly prostatic cancer patients who received castration and total androgen blockade in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from October 2014 to June 2016 were selected by convenient sampling and interviewed intensively. The data were analyzed by Colaizzi's seven-step method for qualitative studies. Results Totally 3 topics were summarized: the sense of uncertainty in elderly prostatic cancer patients after castration; changes in social adaptation; self-image disorder. Conclusions Various psychological crises, especially depression, are experienced in elderly prostatic cancer patients after castration. Therefore, continuous and extensive support is required for elderly prostatic cancer patients after castration. Key words: Prostatic neoplasms; Castration; Psychological experience