Getting Down to Coping®, a Web-Based Intervention to Reduce Distress Associated with Prostate Cancer Treatment: Development and Feasibility in Two Different Clinical Settings

Background: Prostate cancer treatment-related distress is a substantial burden for up to a third of men diagnosed. Without support, physical and emotional symptoms, and health service use can increase; yet men are reticent to accept support. To provide easily accessible and acceptable support that can be cost effectively integrated into care pathways, we developed a unique, web-based, self-guided, cognitive-behavioural programme incorporating filmed and interactive peer support. We assessed feasibility among men with prostate cancer identified with distress and examined implementation in two settings: Phase I, a primary care psychological service; Phase II, a secondary care cancer service. Chat room facilitation was delivered by clinicians in the respective services. Objective We assessed: demand (engagement); acceptability (adherence, satisfaction, experience); potential for change in distress and self-efficacy; and challenges for implementation in clinical practice. Methods A pre-post, within-participant comparison, mixed-methods design. Men received clinician-generated postal invitations: n=432, diagnosed <5 years Phase I; n=606, diagnosed