Profiles of dyadic adjustment for advanced prostate cancer to inform couple-based intervention.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study is to describe from a relational perspective, partners' psychological adjustment, coping and support needs for advanced prostate cancer.


METHODS
A mixed methods design was adopted, employing triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data, to produce dyadic profiles of adjustment for six couples recruited from the urology clinics of local hospitals in Tasmania, Australia.


METHODS
Dyads completed a video-taped communication task, semi-structured interview and standardised self-report questionnaires.


RESULTS
Themes identified were associated with the dyadic challenges of the disease experience (e.g. relationship intimacy, disease progression and carer burden). Couples with poor psychological adjustment profiles had both clinical and global locus of distress, treatment side-effects, carer burden and poor general health. Resilient couples demonstrated relationship closeness and adaptive cognitive and behavioural coping strategies. The themes informed the adaption of an effective program for couples coping with women's cancers (CanCOPE, to create a program for couples facing advanced prostate cancer (ProCOPE-Adv).


CONCLUSIONS
Mixed method results inform the development of psychological therapy components for couples coping with advanced prostate cancer. The concomitance of co-morbid health problems may have implications for access and engagement for older adult populations in face-to-face intervention.
a Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (Psychology) , University of Tasmania , Hobart , Australia.
Kate-Ellen J
KE
Elliott
a Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (Psychology) , University of Tasmania , Hobart , Australia.
Jennifer L
JL
Scott
b School of Surgery , University of Tasmania, Launceston Clinical School , Launceston , Australia.|c Department of Urological Oncology , Launceston General Hospital , Launceston , Australia.
Michael
M
Monsour
d Department of Urological Oncology , Royal Hobart Hospital , Hobart , Australia.
Fadi
F
Nuwayhid
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D018450:Disease Progression; D000066498:Emotional Adjustment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
advanced prostate cancer; couples; dyadic adjustment; intervention; mixed method; oncology; psychological