ProsCan for Men: Randomised controlled trial of a decision support intervention for men with localised prostate cancer

350 men per condition (700 men in total) have been recruited after diagnosis and before treatment through urology private practices and hospital outpatient clinics and randomised to 1) a tele-based nurse delivered five session decision support/psychosocial intervention or 2) a usual care control group. Two intervention sessions are delivered before treatment that address decision support, stress management and preparation for treatment. Three further sessions are provided three weeks, seven weeks and five months after treatment that focus on adjustment to cancer, problem solving and coping with treatment side effects. Participants are assessed at baseline (before treatment) and 2, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months post-treatment. Outcome measures include: cancer threat appraisal; decision-related distress and bother from treatment side effects; involvement in decision making; satisfaction with health care; heath care utilisation; use of health care resources; and a return to previous activities.The study will provide recommendations about the efficacy of early decision support to facilitate adjustment after prostate cancer. As well the study will identify men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer at risk of poorer long term psychosocial adjustment.ACTRN012607000233426.Internationally, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men and the sixth most common cause of death [1]. With increasing rates of diagnosis and improved survival from prostate cancer the public health impact of prostate cancer is high. However, problematically, the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer remain contentious. Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous disease and the risk of mortality from localised disease is difficult to quantify owing to the cancer's relatively slow growth rate. For example, 30–40% of all men aged over 50 years will be estimated to have histological evidence of prostate cancer, but of these only one in four men will develop clinically evi