Conceptualizing quality of life in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A conventional content analysis study

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent condition in aging men, significantly impairing health-related quality of life (HRQoL). While quantitative studies have documented symptom burden, there is limited understanding of how patients themselves conceptualize quality of life based on their lived experiences, particularly in non-Western healthcare contexts where cultural and religious values may shape the meaning of well-being. This qualitative study employed conventional content analysis based on the Graneheim and Lundman framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 men (mean age 63.3 years) recruited from a university hospital in Kashan, Iran. Purposeful sampling ensured diversity in age, disease duration, and occupation. Data analysis was performed following this method. Content analysis revealed 4 main themes, 10 categories, and 31 subcategories from the interviews. The four themes were: (1) physical and functional consequences; (2) psychosocial consequences; (3) occupational and economic burden; and (4) restoration of well-being as quality of life. The core theme, ‘restoration of well-being as quality of life,’ captured patients’ definition of good quality of life, which encompassed independence and control, freedom in daily activities, peace of mind, and spiritual well-being. BPH profoundly affects multiple dimensions of patients’ lives beyond physical symptoms. Patients conceptualize quality of life not merely as symptom absence, but as the restoration of well-being that constitutes their definition of quality of life across physical, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions. The findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive, holistic care that addresses patients’ religious and existential concerns, particularly in Islamic contexts where ritual purity is essential for worship.