title: Survivorship after prostate cancer treatment: spouses' quality of life at 36 months.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the long-term effects of prostate cancer treatment on spouse quality of life (QOL) at 36 months following treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive-exploratory; community-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  95 female spouses of men treated for early-stage prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computer-assisted telephone interview was used to evaluate QOL among spouses of prostate cancer survivors at 36 months after initial prostate cancer treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymphedema, demographic information, self-reported comorbid diseases or medical issues, and medication usage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spouses who had more negative appraisal of caregiving had lower sexual satisfaction, poorer cancer-specific QOL, and poorer mental QOL. Spouses who perceived bother related to the patient's sexual or hormone function reported more threatening appraisals of caregiving, less sexual satisfaction, and poorer QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spouses continued to experience negative appraisal of caregiving, which affected QOL 36 months after their husbands' treatment for prostate cancer. Additional studies related to factors that influence spouse QOL during survivorship will help guide clinical practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare providers must help spouses find strategies that promote positive coping and lessen negative appraisal. Giving caregivers information early in the treatment process will help them understand what to expect over time. Supporting caregivers and helping them manage stress will enhance QOL during survivorship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spouses who experienced more bother related to urinary, sexual, and hormonal function experience more stress and worse QOL at 36 months post-treatment. Spouse appraisal can have a significant effect on QOL. Offering counseling to couples following treatment for prostate cancer may improve QOL by helping couples manage relationship intimacy.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harden
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sanda
authors.forename: John Thomas
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Hossein N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Yarandi
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hembroff
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Northouse
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects; D001290:Attitude; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013689:Telephone; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal