Improving Couples’ Quality of Life Through 
a Web-Based Prostate Cancer Education Intervention

Abstract

Purpose/Objectives To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a newly developed web-based, couple-oriented intervention called Prostate Cancer Education and Resources for Couples (PERC). Design Quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods approach. Setting Oncology outpatient clinics at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC–Chapel Hill. Sample 26 patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa) and their partners. Methods Pre- and postpilot quantitative assessments and a postpilot qualitative interview were conducted. Main Research Variables General and PCa-specific symptoms, quality of life, psychosocial factors, PERC's ease of use, and web activities. Findings Improvement was shown in some PCa-specific and general symptoms (small effect sizes for patients and small-to-medium effect sizes for partners), overall quality of life, and physical and social domains of quality of life for patients (small effect sizes). Web activity data indicated high PERC use. Qualitative and quantitative analyses indicated that participants found PERC easy to use and understand, as well as engaging, of high quality, and relevant. Overall, participants were satisfied with PERC and reported that PERC improved their knowledge about symptom management and communication as a couple. Conclusions PERC was a feasible, acceptable method of reducing the side effects of PCa treatment–related symptoms and improving quality of life. Implications for Nursing PERC has the potential to reduce the negative impacts of symptoms and enhance quality of life for patients with localized PCa and their partners, particularly for those who live in rural areas and have limited access to post-treatment supportive care.

Enhancing Survivorship Care Planning for Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer Using a Couple-Focused mHealth Symptom Self-Management Program: Protocol for a Feasibility Study (Preprint)

“…[30] Members of the research team will have discussions to reconcile coding discrepancies. The responses will be analyzed based on participants' experiences using SCP versus ESCP, to help identify the barriers and facilitators that are unique to the ESCP users.…”

“…We will recruit couples based on procedures used successfully in the past by other researchers [37] and in our pilot study. [30] After IRB approval, the project coordinator will identify potentially eligible patients using patient scheduling systems. The project coordinator then will see patients who meet the inclusion criteria prior to their SCP follow-up visit.…”

“…The theory-driven PERC program aims to improve quality of life for both patients and partners through tailored content and a set of features that provide information and skills training, as well as increase their self-efficacy, social support, and health behaviors for symptom management. [30] In the two pilot feasibility studies we conducted during PERC development, prostate cancer patients and partners reported high satisfaction with PERC. They reported that PERC was simple and easy to use, and that it provided quality information that improved their symptom management and quality of life.…”

“…Our pilot participants also suggested "vigorously advertising PERC" and "having the program available at physicians' offices" so that "all prostate cancer patients and their families can access it." [30] To strengthen survivorship care planning for patients with localized prostate cancer and respond to our pilot participants' suggestions, we proposed to use SCPs as a vehicle for consistent and timely delivery of PERC and to enhance the standardized SCPs (hereafter, ESCPs). We used the theoretical framework adapted from the Translational Model of Stress and Coping [31] and family systems theory [32][33][34] to guide the development of the ESCP for prostate cancer patients in an intimate relationship.…”

“…To address the unmet care needs of patients and their partners, our interdisciplinary research team developed a couple-focused, tailored prostate cancer education mHealth program, Prostate Cancer Education and Resources for Couples (PERC) [30] based on scientific evidence and input from three groups of stakeholders: patients, partners, and cancer care providers. The theory-driven PERC program aims to improve quality of life for both patients and partners through tailored content and a set of features that provide information and skills training, as well as increase their self-efficacy, social support, and health behaviors for symptom management.…”