Exploring the impact of significant others on men on the active surveillance pathway for prostate cancer: a qualitative interview dyad study

Problem

Active surveillance (AS) for prostate cancer (PCa) is a monitoring programme for men with low grade, slow growing prostate cancer. The pathway aims to avoid or delay radical treatment such as surgery, and the associated unwanted side effects. However, living with an untreated cancer can have a negative psychological impact. Previous research suggests partners/significant others of men on AS are involved, important and influential in the men’s experiences, acceptance and adherence to AS, and ultimately they are a big influence in treatment decision making. Research encompassing both men on AS and their significant others is limited.

Approach

This study aims to explore experiences of men undergoing AS for PCa and their significant others, with a more specific aim to explore how the significant other responses to the PCa diagnosis and AS treatment plan impact on the PCa patient. Telephone interviews were conducted with 9 men on AS for PCa and their wives (n=18). Participants were aged between 54-78, mostly White British (n=17), mostly retired (n=14) and had a mixture of education levels. Dyads were interviewed separately using a semi-structured topic guide, transcribed verbatim and coded line by line in NVivo. Following the Collaco et al. (2021) Framework Method for Dyadic Analysis paired dyad interviews were analysed in tandem, and codes charted into a table of themes. Dyadic codes were transferred from the table of themes into a working analytical framework in excel to facilitate analysis and interpretation.

Findings

Analysis is ongoing and results will be available at the conference.

Consequences

It is hoped that the results from this study can inform adjustments that may need to be made within clinical practice to ensure men on the AS pathway have the opportunity to include significant others in all PCa and AS related processes and decisions. A greater inclusion may improve AS acceptance and adherence.