'As long as the doctors know what they are doing': trust or ambivalence about patient information among elderly men with prostate cancer?

In recent years prostate cancer has become a significant health problem worldwide with considerable social and economic consequences. Prostate cancer tends to affect older men, and by the time they reach the age of 80, about half of all men will have a form of prostate cancer. This study explored the information and support needs of men aged 75 and over with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 men, to develop ideas and hypotheses to try to understand why older men do not seek information or use helplines to find out about their condition. From the data it appears that some older men do not understand how the treatment for prostate cancer will impact on their quality of life, and yet do not seek further information beyond that which is provided during consultations. Indeed there appears to be certain ambivalence about finding out more information about their condition - partly because of their beliefs about the normal ageing process and partly because of the trust they have in health professionals and their overall satisfaction with the care that they receive.