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Living with prostate cancer: a critical review of relatives' experiences
Author(s) -
Bruun Poul,
Pedersen Birthe D.,
Osther Palle J.,
Wagner Lis
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of urological nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.184
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 1749-771X
pISSN - 1749-7701
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-771x.2010.01091.x
Subject(s) - spouse , daughter , cinahl , medicine , qualitative research , family medicine , psychiatry , psychological intervention , social science , evolutionary biology , sociology , anthropology , biology
The aim was to review the existing qualitative research literature on the perspectives of the spouse, sons and daughters on life in a family where the male partner/father has prostate cancer. PubMed and CINAHL were searched using the MESH words: prostatic neoplasm, spouse, family, adult children, son, daughter and qualitative research. The search was limited from December 1960 to January 2008. The search returned 560 papers; only six qualitative research papers were relevant and included in the study. The main results of the perspectives of spouses, daughters and sons are presented in relation to the following four stages: diagnosis, pretreatment decision‐making, awaiting treatment and treatment/post‐treatment . The studies reviewed indicate that the spouse, sons and daughters were all markedly affected by the man's serious diagnosis. Some studies highlights the methodological problem of non‐independent informants: in a couple or focus group interview, the different individuals interviewed will always be influenced by the statements or presence of others, or the couple will act as a system and their individual views cannot be identified. This paper concludes that there is a lack of European research through all stages of the illness. In order to learn about the individual, perspective studies should only include either the spouse or the son or daughter as informants. Further research on all stages of the illness is needed. The studies should have a longitudinal design.