Prostate Cancer Results—Comparison and Reduction of Variations for Standardization in DKG-Certified Prostate Cancer Centers, MID-EPIC-D Subproject

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men worldwide. Treatment depends on the stage of the disease and ranges from active surveillance for slow-growing tumors to surgery or radiation therapy for locally confined cancer. Advanced-stage disease is often treated with anti-hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or new targeted therapies. Each of these treatment options can cause side effects such as incontinence, erectile dysfunction, or bowel problems. In addition, many patients struggle with psychological distress. The quality of treatment and follow-up care varies, sometimes significantly, among hospitals both domestically and abroad.

The MID-EPIC-D study is a subproject of the international PCO study (Prostate Cancer Outcomes – Compare & Reduce Variation), which is being conducted in 15 countries. The study aims to compare treatment outcomes at certified prostate cancer centers in Germany with those at international centers. Both medical data and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) —PROs) are collected using the standardized EPIC-26 questionnaire. A particular focus is on determining at what point changes in questionnaire scores become clinically significant for patients (“Minimal Important Differences”—MIDs). This is intended to provide physicians with valuable insights into how they can further optimize the care and treatment of their patients.

The study is non-interventional, meaning that it does not examine a new treatment but rather systematically records and compares existing treatment outcomes. Patients are surveyed regularly (usually annually) before and after their treatment, over a period of up to ten years. The collected data will help identify regional differences in the quality of care and initiate targeted improvement measures.

Men with locally confined prostate cancer who speak sufficient German to answer the questionnaires independently are eligible to participate. Patients with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, as well as individuals with insufficient German language skills, are excluded.

Facts

1. Disease: Prostate cancer
2. Cancer characteristics: locally confined / non-metastatic, previously treated, and untreated
3. What the study examines: Comparison of treatment outcomes at certified German and international centers
4. Study objective: To improve the quality of care
5. Study duration: Long-term study with up to 10 years of follow-up
6. Study characteristics: Observational study, international comparative analysis, questionnaire survey