title: Couples' experiences with prostate cancer: focus group research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences of couples living with prostate cancer, the impact of the illness on their quality of life, their ability to manage symptoms, and their suggestions for interventions that would help them to improve their daily experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, qualitative.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six focus groups were used to obtain the data; two were patient-only groups, two were spouse-caregiver groups, and two were dyad groups. The focus groups were conducted at two comprehensive cancer centers in the midwestern region of the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  42 participants: 22 men with prostate cancer and 20 spouse-caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group discussions were tape-recorded, and the content was analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quality of life, symptom experience, and areas for intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four major themes emerged from the data: enduring uncertainty, living with treatment effects, coping with changes, and needing help.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants had a need for information and support. Both men and spouse-caregivers felt unprepared to manage treatment effects. Symptoms had a broad effect on couples, not just men. Positive effects of the illness, as well as negative effects, emerged from the themes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attention needs to be given to methods of providing information and support to couples coping with prostate cancer. Both patients and partners need to be included in discussions about the effect of the illness and treatments so that both can feel more prepared to manage them.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA. jharden@umich.edu
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harden
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schafenacker
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Northouse
authors.forename: Darlene
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mood
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pienta
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baranowski
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology