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A randomized controlled trial of a brief psychoeducational support group for partners of early stage breast cancer patients
Author(s) -
Bultz Barry D.,
Speca Michael,
Brasher Penny M.,
Geggie Peter H.S.,
Page Stacey A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/1099-1611(200007/08)9:4<303::aid-pon462>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - randomized controlled trial , breast cancer , stage (stratigraphy) , medicine , oncology , support group , physical therapy , cancer , psychiatry , biology , paleontology
Partners of breast cancer patients are relied upon for support at a time when their own coping abilities are taxed by the challenge of cancer, yet few studies have investigated psychosocial interventions that include or target the patient's ‘significant other’. Of the 118 consecutive patients approached, 36 patients and their partners participated in a randomized controlled trial of a brief psychoeducational group program for partners only. Psychometric instruments (including the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS) and DUKE‐UNC Functional Social Support Scale (FSSS)) were administered pre‐test, post‐test and at 3 months follow‐up. The Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (MAC) was also completed by patients. Three months after the intervention, partners had less mood disturbance than did controls. Patients whose partners received the intervention reported less mood disturbance, greater confidant support (CS) and greater marital satisfaction. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.