Including Health Economic Analysis in Pilot Studies: Lessons Learned from a Cost-Utility Analysis within the PROSPECTIV Pilot Study

Abstract

and improved treatments, but can often experience physical, sexual, psychological and emotional problems, and there is evidence that current follow-up practices fail to meet these men's needs (2). There is also a significant economic burden associated with short-and long-term side effects of prostate cancer treatments (3). Previous studies in cancer survivors suggest that primary-care interventions may reduce psycho-logical and emotional problems and thus improve overall quality of life (4, 5). It has also been evidenced that cancer patients are open to alternative forms of post-treatment fol-low-up outside the secondary-care setting (6). Therefore, it is suggested that a role exists in primary care for delivering follow-up, survivorship and self-management support and that primary-care-led follow-up may be acceptable to men with prostate cancer. Earlier identification of physical, sexual, psychological and emotional problems may lead to speedier remedial action, thus reducing the need for secondary and tertiary care follow-up.