Kim, Y., Roscoe, J. A., & Morrow, G. R. (2002). The effects of information and negative affect on severity of side effects from radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 10, 416–421.

This was an educational intervention on the side effects of radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer; a four-minute followed by an eight-minute tape-recorded message (informational intervention versus standard of care information) was used at treatment 1, and a different message was used at treatment 5. The outcome was the severity of the side effects from RT.

• The sample was comprised of 152 patients receiving RT for curative, localized, prostate cancer.
• Mean age was 70.8 years.
• Of the patients, 96% were Caucasian.
• Of the patients, 13% were in stage A, 66% were in stage B, and 21% were in stage C.

• Eight cancer centers
• Eastern United States

Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.

The study was a randomized, controlled trial.

A single-item measure of sleep was obtained at week 2 and the end of treatment.

A brief educational intervention is helpful in reducing sleep problems resulting from RT and cancer.

• Baseline symptom severity was not measured.
• Cost is incurred when developing the tape-recorded messages.

No training is required.