title: Do men with prostate cancer and their partners receive the information they need for optimal illness self-management in the immediate post-diagnostic phase?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To (a) determine whether the information provided to men with prostate cancer and their partners in the immediate postdiagnostic phase met their needs; and (b) examine patient and partner satisfaction with the information received.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre-intervention survey data from a pilot randomized controlled trial of a self-directed coping skills intervention involving 42 patients with prostate cancer, and their partners were collected to examine their psychosocial concerns/needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main concerns for patients and partners were psychosocial in nature such as managing emotions, concern about the future, and losing control. Overall, patients and partners received most information about tests and treatment options. Partners reported receiving significantly less information about support services (P= 0.03) and self-care strategies (P= 0.03) compared to patients. Partners also reported being significantly less satisfied with the information they received (P= 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whereas medical information is routinely given, patients and partners may benefit from greater information about psychosocial issues arising from cancer. Despite increased recognition of partner's information needs these still remain unmet.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Janelle V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Levesque
authors.affiliation: Ingram School of Nursing, Magill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Sylvie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Afaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girgis
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, John Hunter Hospital, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McElduff
authors.affiliation: Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kayser
keywords: Prostate cancer; information seeking; partners/caregivers; psychosocial needs; satisfaction with information