title: Information Seeking and Satisfaction with Information Sources Among Spouses of Men with Newly Diagnosed Local-Stage Prostate Cancer.
abstract: Information sources about prostate cancer treatment and outcomes are typically designed for patients. Little is known about the availability and utility of information for partners. The objectives of our study were to evaluate information sources used by partners to understand prostate cancer management options, their perceived usefulness, and the relationship between sources used and satisfaction with treatment experience. A longitudinal survey of female partners of men newly diagnosed with local-stage prostate cancer was conducted in three different geographic regions. Partners and associated patients were surveyed at baseline (after patient diagnosis but prior to receiving therapy) and at 12 months following diagnosis. Information sources included provider, literature, friends or family members, Internet websites, books, traditional media, and support groups. Utility of an information source was defined as whether the partner would recommend it to caregivers of other patients with local-stage prostate cancer. Our study cohort included 179 partner-patient pairs. At diagnosis, partners consulted an average of 4.6 information sources. Non-Hispanic white partners were more likely than others to use friends and family as an information source (OR = 2.44, 95% CI (1.04, 5.56)). More educated partners were less likely to use support groups (OR = 0.31, 95% CI (0.14, 0.71)). At 12-month follow-up, partners were less likely to recommend books (OR = 0.23, 95% CI (0.11, 0.49)) compared to baseline. Partners consulted a large number of information sources in researching treatment options for local-stage prostate cancer and the types of sources accessed varied by race/ethnicity and educational attainment. Additional resources to promote selection of high-quality non-provider information sources are warranted to enable partners to better aid patients in their treatment decision-making process.
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.|School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA, 98185, USA.
authors.forename: Aasthaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
authors.forename: Lisel M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Koepl
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Fedorenko
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Chamblee, GA, 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Chunyu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Chamblee, GA, 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Judith Lee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Chamblee, GA, 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Ingrid J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Penson
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA. sramsey@fhcrc.org.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ramsey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Information sources; Partner information needs; Prostate cancer