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Patterns and predictors of symptom incongruence in older couples coping with prostate cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

Prostate cancer survivors (PCSs) may experience persistent symptoms following treatment. If PCSs and spouses differ in their perceptions of symptoms, that incongruence may cause mismanagement of symptoms and reduced relationship quality. The purpose of this study was to examine symptom incongruence and identify the PCS and spouse characteristics associated with symptom incongruence in older couples coping with prostate cancer.

Methods

Participants in the study were older PCSs (>60 years) and their spouses (N = 59 couples). Symptom incongruence was determined by comparing patient and spouse independent ratings of the severity of his cancer-related symptoms. Predictor variables included PCS age, time since diagnosis, PCS comorbidity, PCS and spouse depressive symptoms, and spouse caregiving strain.

Results

PCS and spouse ratings of his symptom severity and the amount of incongruence over his symptoms varied significantly across couples. Overall, couples rated a moderate level of PCS symptom severity, but PCSs and their spouses significantly differed in their perceptions of PCS symptom severity with spouses rating severity higher (t = −2.66, df = 51, p < 0.01). PCS younger age and high spouse caregiver strain accounted for 29 % of incongruence in perceptions of PCS symptom severity.

Conclusions

This study is among the first to show that PCSs and spouses may perceive cancer-related persistent symptoms differently. Among this older sample, younger PCS age and spouse caregiver strain were associated with incongruence in symptoms perceptions in couples. These and other factors may inform future interventions aimed at preserving relationship quality in older couples who have experienced prostate cancer.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by funding from the National Cancer Institute 1R21 CA137272 to KWS (Principal Investigator) and KSL (Co-Investigator).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Mailcode: SN-ORD, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Kerri M. Winters-Stone, Karen S. Lyons & Jill A. Bennett

  2. Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Kerri M. Winters-Stone, Karen S. Lyons, Jill A. Bennett & Tomasz M. Beer

Authors
  1. Kerri M. Winters-Stone
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  2. Karen S. Lyons
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  3. Jill A. Bennett
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  4. Tomasz M. Beer
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Correspondence to Kerri M. Winters-Stone.

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Winters-Stone, K.M., Lyons, K.S., Bennett, J.A. et al. Patterns and predictors of symptom incongruence in older couples coping with prostate cancer. Support Care Cancer 22, 1341–1348 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-2092-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-2092-0

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