Introduction
Access to appropriate information and support remains problematic for many men diagnosed with prostate cancer, especially in rural and remote areas of Australia. We have developed an online clinical support program, PROSTMATE, which aims to overcome these barriers to access.
Aims
PROSTMATE is a secure portal that provides telehealth consultations with nurses and psychologists, tailored information, a place to record treatments, test results and appointments, online tracking tools and self-directed support programs to improve health and wellbeing.
Methodology
PROSTMATE (www.prostmate.org.au) is freely accessible to men affected by prostate cancer, their families and others interested in prostate cancer. PROSTMATE launched in November 2013 and we have monitored its uptake, user engagement and participant feedback.
Results
Over 750 people have registered. 72% of members are from metropolitan areas, 22.5% from regional or remote areas. The majority of members (56.5%) are men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Self-reported problems at registration indicated that 17.2% of men with prostate cancer reported at risk levels of mood problems and 41.4% reported at risk levels of sexual intimacy problems. 23.5% of partners reported at risk levels of relationship problems and 41.2% reported at risk levels of sexual intimacy problems. Telehealth consultations have steadily grown and appear to be an acceptable delivery mode for men and their families.
Conclusions
PROSTMATE shows promise in supporting men and offering access to specialist prostate cancer nurses and allied health services. This paper will explore how PROSTMATE could provide a novel way of improving care, and potentially see the integration of these systems into routine care.