FAQ for Early Diagnosis Prostate Cancer Study by the Cancer Information Service Research Consortium

Healing Choices for Men with Prostate Cancer

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are you doing this study?

In this study researchers will be testing if new methods and materials for providing prostate cancer information to the CIS callers are helpful to them. This new service will provide this information using either the Internet or a CD.

Who can participate in the study?

Patients with early stage of prostate cancer who are still making decisions about their prostate cancer treatment.

Who is funding the study?

This study is funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The Cancer Information Service, which the patient will call for information about this study, is a program of the National Cancer Institute.

Who has reviewed and approved the study?

This study was reviewed and approved by the Human Subjects Protection Committee at each participating institution. This committee reviewed this study to make sure it was ethical, and that the benefits of conducting this study outweigh any possible negative effects.

What are the medical or research credentials and experience of the researchers and other study personnel?

The CISRC principal investigator and all the project leaders and co-investigators have years of experiences in cancer research and have previously received several grants for cancer research from the NCI and other national and non-profit organizations.

Can patients have the contact information of the principal investigator or other study personnel?

Yes, either the Project Manager or the Principal Investigator. See contact information above.

How are participants’ information and data protected?

If the patient decides to join this study, we will never share or report any of his individual answers. Only summaries of what participants in this study report will be published. It is very important that we keep the patient’s personal information private. We keep all participants’ information in one location on a secure database that can be accessed only by the study team.

What will you be doing with results?

The results of the study will be used to understand if and how patients benefited from the new educational methods and materials on prostate cancer and its treatment. This information is useful as it provides evidence that the new educational methods and materials can also help other prostate cancer patients learn more about prostate cancer and make a treatment decision.

Who will have access to the data?

The patient’s privacy is very important to us. Only the research team will have access to the patient’s data. Once the patient signs up for the study and authorizes us to interview him, we will only use his information for study purposes. This means that if we publish anything it would not have the patient’s name or any other information that would link it to him.

Can you send the patient a copy of the survey before he agrees to participate?

We will not send surveys at any point in time. The patient will be interviewed by the phone and will receive study materials if he agrees to participate in the study. After that patients will receive two additional telephone calls/interview from a member of our research team. The first call/interview will take place about two months after the first call to the CIS, and the second call/interview will take place seven months later. Our researcher will ask patients questions about the materials they received and how they are doing.

How many surveys will the patient receive?

The first interview will take place when the patient call the CIS and agree to participate in this study. The second call/interview will take place about two months after the patient’s first call to the CIS, and the third call will take place seven months later. Our researcher will ask the patient questions about the materials he received, and how he is doing. We might contact the patient again for additional follow-up beyond 9 months if he agrees to continue his participation in the study.

How long will the study last?

The study started in 2008 and will end in 2009. Each participant who agrees to participate will receive two telephone calls/interviews from a member of our research team. The first call/interview will take place about two months after the participant’s first call to the CIS, and the second call call/interview will take place seven months later.

Can potential participants talk with people already enrolled in the study?

Because we keep the contact information of all participants private, it will not be possible to send new participants the contact information of the people that are already enrolled in the study.

Are there any kinds of treatment, medical tests, or procedures the participants will have during this study?

This study does not include any medical procedures.

Is this study a part of a clinical trial? If so, how can the patient participate in the clinical trial as well?

This study is not a part of a clinical trial of medical treatments. It does not include any medical procedures.

What are some of the benefits of taking part in this study?

Participants will have access to new educational materials and method designed to help patients learn more about prostate cancer and treatment. Results from the study also may help other men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the future.

What are some of the possible risks or side effects of taking part in this study?

Because this study will provide the patient with information and ask him questions related to his experience with prostate cancer, there is a small chance that this study may cause the patient to feel anxious or worried about his prostate cancer. This might happen even though this study is designed to make our callers better informed about their prostate cancer, and to help them with their prostate cancer-related concerns.

Will participants have to pay for any charges?

Participants in this study will not pay for any charges.

What happens when this study is over?

After all of the interviews are completed the data will be analyzed. The researchers will present their findings at conferences and in journals. Audiences for the findings are likely to include en diagnosed with prostate cancer, the professionals who serve them, and other researchers.

Where can patients find more information about this study?

Patients can call: The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service (CIS) at 1‑800‑4‑CANCER OR contact the Project Manager or Principal Investigator.