A couple-based dyadic coping intervention for colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads: A randomized controlled study

Zhiming Wang; Meizhen Chen; Jiali Gong; Junrui Zhou; Xuan Chen; Jie Zhao; Chunyan Lin; Qiuping Li

doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102565

A couple-based dyadic coping intervention for colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads: A randomized controlled study

Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2024 Mar 13:70:102565. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102565. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zhiming Wang¹, Meizhen Chen², Jiali Gong³, Junrui Zhou¹, Xuan Chen¹, Jie Zhao⁴, Chunyan Lin⁴, Qiuping Li⁵

Affiliations

¹ Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China.
² Suqian Health School in Jiangsu Province, China.
³ Nursing Department, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China.
⁴ Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China.
⁵ Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China; Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: liqp@163.com.

PMID: 38615513
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102565

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical effects of a couple-focused dyadic coping intervention in colorectal cancer (CRC) couples.

Methods: The study was a single-blinded randomized controlled study which 226 CRC couples were recruited and randomized to either the intervention (N = 113) or the control (N = 113) group. All couples received usual care while the six-week dyadic coping intervention was provided to the intervened couples in psycho-education and skill training methods through face-to-face combined with telephone formats. Measurement data, including dyadic coping, marital satisfaction, quality of life and psychological well-being were collected at pre- and post-intervention periods. And multilevel model (MLM) was applied to analyze the effects of the intervention and the role tendency.

Results: A total of 173 couples completed the program and post-intervention evaluation. The retention rate was 76.5%. Results from MLM showed that the dyadic coping intervention is effective in promoting levels of dyadic coping (P < 0.001), marital satisfaction (P = 0.042), mental health (P = 0.006), and positive psychological well-being (P < 0.001), and alleviating depression (P = 0.015) in CRC couples. For role tendency, the intervention found to be more effective in CRC spousal caregivers' positive psychological well-being compared to the patients (P = 0.037).

Conclusion: The couple-based dyadic coping intervention is effective in promoting dyadic coping and improving psychological adjustment in CRC couples. More studies were needed to further evaluate the program and its long-term efficacy in the future. In addition, given the positive effects of the intervention, clinical nursing stuffs may consider implementing such intervention in their routine work while caring for CRC couples.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Dyadic coping; Dyadic intervention; Psychological adjustment; Spousal caregiver.