title: Helping Her Heal-Group: a pilot study to evaluate a group delivered educational intervention for male spouses of women with breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Distress in husbands of women with early-stage breast cancer may be equivalent to or even higher than their wives. Husbands often struggle to help and support their wives cope with the illness and its treatment. In response, we developed a five-session group educational counselling intervention (Helping Her Heal-Group (HHH-G)) for husbands of women with early-stage breast cancer. The primary aim of the current pilot study was to determine the acceptability and feasibility of HHH-G and to obtain a preliminary estimate of its impact on participating men's skills, self-confidence and self care. Secondary aims were to assess the impact of the intervention on both the participating spouses' and wives' ratings of marital quality and depressed mood.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study employed a one-arm, pre-post-intervention design whereby participating men (n=54) and their wives (n=54) independently completed measures at baseline (T0), immediately following the last session (T1) and 3 months after the last session (T2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, there was very high study retention (87%). On the basis of the questionnaire data, we found significant improvements in spouses' self-efficacy (p<0.001) and self-reported skills including wife support (p=0.003) and self-care (p<0.001). In addition, there was a significant improvement in wives' mood scores (p=0.003). Post-intervention interviews support acceptability and impact of the HHH-G intervention, and provide support for the group format of the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The feasibility and acceptability of HHH-G was supported, and treatment outcomes suggest the potential benefits of the intervention. Phase III evaluation of HHH-G program is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Survivorship Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada. jennifer.jones@uhn.ca
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Frances Marcus
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Secord
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Lori J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maheu
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Catton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: breast cancer; communication skills training; educational counselling; group intervention; spouse adjustment