Coping in men with prostate cancer and their partners: a quantitative and qualitative study

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Author(s)
Green, HJ
Wells, DJN
Laakso, L
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2011
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study investigated coping and quality of life in men with prostate cancer (n= 105, 48-86 years of age) and their partners (n= 85, 48-84 years). Participants completed the Abbreviated Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Brief COPE, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and open-ended questions on appraisal and coping. Multivariate analyses showed that better quality of life was associated with higher education levels (role functioning and fatigue), lower avoidant coping (emotional, social, and physical functioning and fatigue), and higher relationship satisfaction ...
View more >This study investigated coping and quality of life in men with prostate cancer (n= 105, 48-86 years of age) and their partners (n= 85, 48-84 years). Participants completed the Abbreviated Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Brief COPE, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and open-ended questions on appraisal and coping. Multivariate analyses showed that better quality of life was associated with higher education levels (role functioning and fatigue), lower avoidant coping (emotional, social, and physical functioning and fatigue), and higher relationship satisfaction (emotional functioning). Use of medication or combined treatments was associated with worse physical and role functioning. Partners reported similar quality of life for patients as the patient ratings, except that partners reported patients' emotional functioning as significantly worse and social functioning as significantly better than the patients' own ratings. Patients and partners reported both positive and negative aspects to prostate cancer, and mentioned a range of coping strategies. Similarities between patients and partners in their responses to prostate cancer were identified using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Some differences within dyads were also noted and previous suggestions to incorporate partners and significant others in education and treatment were supported.
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View more >This study investigated coping and quality of life in men with prostate cancer (n= 105, 48-86 years of age) and their partners (n= 85, 48-84 years). Participants completed the Abbreviated Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Brief COPE, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and open-ended questions on appraisal and coping. Multivariate analyses showed that better quality of life was associated with higher education levels (role functioning and fatigue), lower avoidant coping (emotional, social, and physical functioning and fatigue), and higher relationship satisfaction (emotional functioning). Use of medication or combined treatments was associated with worse physical and role functioning. Partners reported similar quality of life for patients as the patient ratings, except that partners reported patients' emotional functioning as significantly worse and social functioning as significantly better than the patients' own ratings. Patients and partners reported both positive and negative aspects to prostate cancer, and mentioned a range of coping strategies. Similarities between patients and partners in their responses to prostate cancer were identified using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Some differences within dyads were also noted and previous suggestions to incorporate partners and significant others in education and treatment were supported.
View less >
Journal Title
European Journal of Cancer Care
Volume
20
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2011 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. This is the author-manuscript version of the paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.The definitive version is available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
Subject
Nursing
Oncology and carcinogenesis