Coping in men with prostate cancer and their partners: a quantitative and qualitative study

This study investigated coping and quality of life in men with prostate cancer (n= 105, 48-86 years of age) and their partners (n= 85, 48-84 years). Participants completed the Abbreviated Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Brief COPE, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and open-ended questions on appraisal and coping. Multivariate analyses showed that better quality of life was associated with higher education levels (role functioning and fatigue), lower avoidant coping (emotional, social, and physical functioning and fatigue), and higher relationship satisfaction (emotional functioning). Use of medication or combined treatments was associated with worse physical and role functioning. Partners reported similar quality of life for patients as the patient ratings, except that partners reported patients' emotional functioning as significantly worse and social functioning as significantly better than the patients' own ratings. Patients and partners reported both positive and negative aspects to prostate cancer, and mentioned a range of coping strategies. Similarities between patients and partners in their responses to prostate cancer were identified using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Some differences within dyads were also noted and previous suggestions to incorporate partners and significant others in education and treatment were supported.