The impact of prostate cancer on partners: A qualitative exploration
- Authors: Wootten, Addie , Abbott, Jo-Anne , Osborne, Dawn , Austin, David , Klein, Britt , Costello, Anthony , Murphy, Declan
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Psycho-Oncology Vol. 23, no. 11 (2014), p. 1252-1258
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- Description: Objective: Prostate cancer and its treatment can result in numerous physical and psychological morbidities for the patient as well as his partner. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of intimate spouses or partners of men diagnosed and/or treated for prostate cancer to better understand the personal impact of prostate cancer on the partner. Methods: Twenty-seven partners participated in this study. Six focus groups were convened, and one in-depth interview was undertaken to explore the practical impact of prostate cancer on the intimate spouse/partner. All discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed and then coded using a thematic approach. Results: Six themes emerged: (a) The influence of the man's response to prostate cancer on the partner, (b) The need to be involved in treatment and medical decision making, (c) Supporting a man who is experiencing a loss of masculinity, (d) Degree of congruence between each partner's coping responses, (e) Constrained communication, and (f) Changed roles and increased practical management. Conclusions: It is clear that prostate cancer impacts substantially on many areas of partner well-being. An effective intervention provided to this population seems warranted and may lead to improvements in partner well-being, assist the couple in lessening the impact of prostate cancer and its treatment on their relationship, and assist in the man's recovery. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An online psychological intervention can improve the sexual satisfaction of men following treatment for localized prostate cancer : Outcomes of a randomised controlled trial evaluating my road ahead
- Authors: Wootten, Addie C , Meyer, Denny , Abbott, Jo-Anne , Chisholm, Katherine , Austin, David , Klein, Britt , McCabe, Marita , Murphy, Declan G , Costello, Anthony
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Psycho-Oncology Vol. 26, no. 7 (2016), p. 975-981
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- Description: BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer treatment often results in significant psycho-sexual challenges for men following treatment; however, many men report difficulty in accessing appropriate care. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was undertaken to assess the efficacy of a 10-week self-guided online psychological intervention called My Road Ahead (MRA) for men with localized prostate cancer in improving sexual satisfaction. Participants were randomized to 1 of 3 conditions MRA alone or MRA plus online forum, or forum access alone. Pre, post, and follow-up assessments of overall sexual satisfaction were conducted. Mixed models and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: One hundred forty-two men (mean age 61 y; SD = 7) participated. The majority of participants had undergone radical prostatectomy (88%) and all men had received treatment for localized prostate cancer. Significant differences were obtained for the 3 groups (P = .026) and a significant improvement in total sexual satisfaction was observed only for participants who were allocated to MRA + forum with a large effect size (P = .004, partial eta2 = 0.256). Structural equation modeling indicated that increases in sexual function, masculine self-esteem, and sexual confidence contributed significantly to overall sexual satisfaction for the MRA + forum plus forum condition. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first, to our knowledge, that has evaluated a self-guided online psychological intervention tailored to the specific needs of men with prostate cancer. The findings indicate the potential for MRA to deliver support that men may not otherwise receive and also highlight the importance of psychological intervention to facilitate improved sexual outcomes.