Feasibility Study of an Online Intervention to Support Male Spouses of Women With Breast Cancer

Oncol Nurs Forum. 2017 Nov 1;44(6):765-775. doi: 10.1188/17.ONF.765-775.

Abstract

Purpose/objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of a web-based psychosocial supportive intervention entitled Male Transition Toolkit (MaTT). .

Design: Randomized, controlled trial, mixed methods, concurrent feasibility design. .

Setting: Edmonton, a large metropolitan city in western Canada. .

Sample: 40 dyads (women with breast cancer and their spouse). .

Methods: Male spouse participants in the treatment group accessed MaTT for four weeks. Data on hope, quality of life, general self-efficacy, and caregiver guilt were collected at baseline and days 14, 28, and 56. Quality-of-life data were collected from the women with breast cancer at each time period. Qualitative data were collected from the usual care group in an open-ended interview and from the treatment group in an evaluation survey on days 14 and 28. .

Main research variables: Feasibility, as measured by the MaTT questionnaire. .

Findings: Evaluation survey scores indicated that MaTT was feasible, acceptable, and easy to use. Male spouse quality-of-life scores were not significantly different between groups. As guilt scores decreased, male spouses' quality of life increased. .

Conclusions: The findings provided useful information to strengthen MaTT and improve study design. Additional research is needed to determine its efficacy in improving male spouses' quality of life. .

Implications for nursing: MaTT is a feasible intervention. Future research should evaluate MaTT with larger samples as well as determine the amount of time participants used MaTT.

Keywords: breast cancer; feasibility; male spouses; online intervention; quality of life.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Canada
  • Caregivers / education*
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Computer-Assisted Instruction / methods
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Spouses / education*
  • Spouses / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires