Development of e-learning videos to facilitate uptake and reach of nutrition evidence as part of supportive care for prostate cancer patients across BC

One in eight Canadian men will develop prostate cancer (PC), but most will live for many years after diagnosis. This places a high level of importance on supportive care, particularly regarding lifestyle, as the impact of treatment on health and quality of life are long lasting. Nutrition is a key part of supportive care, helping to inform men about healthy eating and diet recommendations for PC. However, nutrition is rarely a part of standard of care in Canadian cancer centres. In recognition of this gap and other gaps in supportive care, the Prostate Cancer Supportive Care (PCSC) program, a comprehensive survivorship program, provides education (including nutrition education), as standard of care. The Vancouver-based program is being expanded to four additional centres across BC as part of a $6 million commitment from the BC Ministry of Health. A strategic priority of the PCSC program is the development of online materials for a virtual centre to reach men who cannot physically access the program.

The objective of this study is to collaboratively develop innovative online videos that meets the educational needs of men by teaching nutrition concepts and presenting evidence on diet and PC in an interesting and engaging way. E-learning offers more flexibility, wider geographic reach, and on-demand access to provide men greater autonomy over this aspect of their healthcare. Audience-appropriate learning strategies will be used, assisted by the award-wining teaching expertise on the team. The team also has expertise in knowledge translation of nutrition evidence and e-learning methods. Video content will be adapted from evidence-based information including the current in-person education session, medical and scientific literature, and will respond to the findings from a needs assessment being conducted by the project team, which includes feedback from men, their partners, physicians, and stakeholders. Videos will be displayed on the PCSC website and cross-posted with other partner sites. Additional objectives are to refine the videos based on feedback from these groups and to measure the reach and satisfaction.

The outcome of the project is increased nutritional support for men and their families throughout the survivorship continuum. It is anticipated that this project will serve as a model to encourage incorporation of nutrition as a standard of care and will positively affect men’s health across the PC trajectory.