title: Transitions of male partners of women with breast cancer: hope, guilt, and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To (a) describe the types of transitions experienced by male spousal caregivers of women with breast cancer and the strategies used by male spouses to deal with these transitions and (b) examine factors related to their quality of life, including demographic variables, self-efficacy, caregiver guilt, hope, the quality of life of their partner with breast cancer, and transitions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, transformational, mixed-methods approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants' homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  105 dyads of male spouses and their female partners diagnosed with stages I-III breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  600 surveys were mailed to women with breast cancer and their male partners. Significant variables were entered into a multivariate model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male caregiver quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The quality of life of male spouse participants was positively influenced by hope (p < 0.01). It was negatively influenced by caregiver guilt scores (p < 0.01) and the method of dealing with their transitions by "doing what needs to be done" (p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The male caregivers with higher quality-of-life scores reported higher hope and lower caregiver guilt scores. They reported lower quality-of-life scores if they dealt with transitions by "doing what needs to be done."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies to support male spouses of women with breast cancer should involve ways to foster hope, reduce feelings of guilt, and encourage male caregivers to engage more in supporting their spouses.
authors: University of Alberta.
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Duggleby
authors: University of Alberta.
authors: Jasmine
authors: J
authors: Thomas
authors: University of Alberta.
authors: Kelly
authors: K
authors: Montford
authors: University of Ottawa.
authors: Roanne
authors: R
authors: Thomas
authors: Covenant Health and University of Alberta.
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Nekolaichuk
authors: Alberta Health Services.
authors: Sunita
authors: S
authors: Ghosh
authors: University of Alberta.
authors: Ceiwen
authors: C
authors: Cumming
authors: University of Alberta.
authors: Katia
authors: K
authors: Tonkin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D028681:Moral Obligations; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: breast cancer; guilt; hope; male caregivers; mixed-methods approach; transitions