Partner's adjustment to breast cancer: a critical analysis of intervention studies

Partners of breast cancer patients do not have resources available for dealing with their concerns. An analysis of intervention studies with partners was conducted, spanning research published from 1966 to 2004. Although there is considerable descriptive research documenting the need for partner interventions in the context of breast cancer, only 4 studies met criteria for inclusion in this analysis. Two studies reported limited intervention efficacy, but none incorporated all characteristics of a rigorous clinical trial with adequate power to fully test the intervention. Future intervention research should incorporate randomized, controlled clinical trial designs; have adequate statistical power; clearly report eligibility criteria; delineate theoretically based, fully explicated, and consistently delivered interventions; and use outcome measures that are sensitive to empirically derived partner-adjustment issues.