The Vitality Index: Vital decisions in locally advanced prostate cancer

Treatment discussions in the field of locally advanced prostate cancer have seen an increasing emphasis on issues of patient choice and quality of life, particularly as active treatment interventions can result in side effects such as bladder, bowel and sexual problems. The Vitality Index (VI) has been developed as a new simple decision tool to support the specialist nurse in patient consultations. The VI helps nurses and other health professionals, as well as patients, to discuss and assess the side effects of available treatments and their impact on the individual's lifestyle. The aim is to limit the compromise of a patient's quality of life within the context of disease management.