Lay summary
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting New Zealand men. While most men survive their prostate cancer, treatment is often associated with significant, prolonged side effects that can impact urinary and erectile function, affect quality of life and lead to psychosocial distress. Many men feel uninformed about the possible long-term nature of side effects, which leads to post-treatment regret, and men experiencing distress are often reluctant to seek help, especially if that distress relates to sexual dysfunction. In June 2019, Waikato District Health Board initiated a group information session to inform newly diagnosed men about their prostate cancer, treatment options and potential side effects. We aim to characterise men who did and did not attend this session, and evaluate any improvement in health literacy and reduction of treatment regret and future psychosocial distress. If successful, group information sessions can potentially improve care for prostate cancer patients in New Zealand.