Feasibility, acceptability, and behavioral outcomes of a multimodal intervention for prostate cancer patients: Experience from the MARTINI lifestyle program

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed malignant tumor in men. The potential benefit of a healthy lifestyle contrasts sharply with the observed poor adherence to current international lifestyle guidelines. Thus, well-designed sustainable interventions of aftercare that can be translated into routine practice are highly recommended. The present pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a multimodal lifestyle intervention program in PCa patients after radical prostatectomy (RP).

METHODS: In a single-arm study, carried out at the Martini-Klinik of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, 59 eligible men with locally advanced PCa were recruited within 3-6 months after RP and assigned to a multimodal lifestyle program. The program consisted of 10 weekly 6-7 h course days, with a focus on dietary control, physical activity (per World Cancer Research Fund recommendations) and psychological support. Primary objectives were feasibility, acceptability, completion rate, and safety. In addition, changes in lifestyle, psychological well-being, clinical and laboratory values were assessed. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (No. DRK S00015288 [MARTINI-Lifestyle-cohort] [www.germanctr.de]).

RESULTS: A high program acceptance was observed. Only three participants (5%) dropped out of the program prematurely. Personal feedback reflected appreciation for participation, personal gain through new knowledge and through the group experience. Without exception, all participants have taken part in follow-up examinations and no adverse events or incidents occurred. In addition, changes in lifestyle habits, clinical parameters and improved quality of life were detected.

CONCLUSION: The MARTINI lifestyle program appears feasible and safe, and acceptance of the multimodal intervention was high among PCa patients. These encouraging results favor conducting a large multicenter trial to implement the program into routine practice and to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention on survival and quality of life.