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Psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life in prostate cancer survivors and their intimate or family partners

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Abstract

Purpose

The primary purpose was to test the effectiveness of two telephone-delivered psychosocial interventions for maintaining and improving quality of life (QOL) (psychological, physical, social, and spiritual well-being) among 71 prostate cancer survivors and the 70 intimate or family partners who were supporting them in their recovery.

Methods

This study used a three-wave repeated measures experimental design. Both the interpersonal counseling intervention (TIP-C) and health education attention condition (HEAC) were delivered using the telephone.

Results

Improvements in depression, negative affect, stress, fatigue, and spiritual well-being were significantly higher for survivors in the HEAC than for those in the TIP-C condition. Partners in the HEAC condition showed significantly greater improvements in depression, fatigue, social support from family members, social well-being, and spiritual well-being compared to partners in the TIP-C condition. The results revealed superior outcomes for those assigned to the HEAC intervention.

Conclusions

The psychosocial interventions in this study were effective in maintaining or improving the QOL for prostate cancer survivors and their partners. Both the survivor and their intimate partner or family member benefitted from the interventions. Future research is needed to determine the optimal timing and client characteristics for each intervention.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this R21 study (R21CA113409) was provided by the National Cancer Institute to Terry Badger. We gratefully thank our recruitment sites: Arizona Cancer Center, Veteran’s Affairs Health Care Systems in Phoenix and Tucson. This material is the result of work supported with the resources and the use of facilities at the Veteran’s Affairs Health Care Systems in Phoenix and Tucson. We thank Maria Figueroa, Xochitl Gaxiola, Jeannine Thomas, Jen Riech, and Karina Othon-Tapia. The contents of this publication do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Nursing, The University of Arizona, 1305 N. Martin, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0203, USA

    Terry A. Badger & Alice Pasvogel

  2. Department of Communication, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Chris Segrin & Stacey Passalacqua

  3. Department of Psychology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Aurelio J. Figueredo

  4. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Phoenix Veterans’ Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Joanne Harrington

  5. Division of Health Sciences, Orvis School of Nursing, The University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, USA

    Kate Sheppard

  6. Arizona Cancer Center and Southern Arizona Veterans’ Affairs Health Care System, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Maria Bishop

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  1. Terry A. Badger
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  2. Chris Segrin
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  8. Maria Bishop
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Correspondence to Terry A. Badger.

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Badger, T.A., Segrin, C., Figueredo, A.J. et al. Psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life in prostate cancer survivors and their intimate or family partners. Qual Life Res 20, 833–844 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9822-2

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