Couples and Cancer: Building Partner Efficacy in Caring

描述（由申请人提供）：目前的估计是，三分之一的美国人-因此三分之二的夫妇-可能面临癌症的经验。这项第一阶段SBIR建议旨在测试改善癌症患者伴侣提供的治疗效果的可行性。合作伙伴将接受选定的补充治疗技术的培训，这些技术有望改善癌症患者的生活质量和福祉。结果将在三个月内进行评估。目标1：确定干预对患者及其亲密伴侣的情绪调节、功能性生活质量和关系质量的纵向受试者内效应，并作为个体进行评估。目标2：将样本分层为亚组，以确定预测谁最有可能和谁最不可能得到干预帮助的标记。目标3：确定在干预中教授的学习技巧的利用的障碍和促进因素。实现上述目标将支持以下假设的测试：假设1：与对照阶段相比，干预阶段患者和伴侣的情绪调节、功能性生活质量和关系质量都会有显着改善。假设二：伴侣使用干预技术的频率将预测患者和伴侣的情绪调节水平、功能性生活质量和关系质量。样本：48对夫妇，混合类型，癌症的阶段和持续时间。方法：我们将采用纵向、受试者内、控制和干预阶段设计，采用统计方法，提供传统方法无法提供的数据见解（单个病例纵向数据的N-of-1“预处理”;在将个体受试者组合成复合组之前筛选数据，以评估和规避矛盾混杂;以及分层最优分类树分析，以提供关于结果变量的样本分层，从而获得理论上的最大准确度和简约性）。焦点小组将提供定性数据的障碍和利用，干预的现象学，并为未来的完善批评的促进者。 长期目标：根据调查结果，第二阶段研究将制定和测试培训的多媒体方法。我们的目标是一个教育系列，是以证据为基础的，鼓舞人心的，并获得大众市场的夫妇面临癌症。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Current estimates are that one in three Americans - and therefore two in three couples - are likely to face the experience of cancer. This Phase I SBIR proposal is to test the feasibility of improving the efficacy of caregiving provided by the partners of cancer patients. Partners will be trained in selected complementary therapy techniques that show promise for improving quality of life and well-being in cancer. Outcomes will be evaluated over three months. Aim 1: Determine the longitudinal within-subject effects of the intervention on emotional adjustment, functional quality of life, and quality of relationship in a sample of patients and their intimate partners, assessed as individuals. Aim 2: Stratify the sample into subgroups to identify markers predicting who is most likely and who is least likely to be helped by the intervention. Aim 3: Identify barriers and facilitators of utilization of the caregiving techniques taught in the intervention. Achieving the above aims will support testing of the following hypotheses: Hypothesis 1: There will be significant improvements in emotional adjustment, functional quality of life, and quality of relationship during the intervention phase compared to the control phase, for both patients and partners. Hypothesis 2: The partner's frequency of use of the intervention techniques will predict levels of emotional adjustment, functional quality of life, and quality of relationship in both the patient and the partner. Sample: 48 couples, mixed types, stages and durations of cancer. Method: We will use a longitudinal, within-subjects, control and intervention phases design employing statistical methodologies that provide insights into the data that are not afforded by traditional methods (N-of-1 "pre-processing" of single-case longitudinal data; screening the data prior to combining individual subjects into composite groups to assess and circumvent paradoxical confounding; and hierarchically optimal classification tree analysis to provide sample stratification in regard to outcome variables for theoretical maximum accuracy and parsimony). Focus groups will provide qualitative data on barriers and facilitators of utilization, phenomenology of the intervention, and critique for future refinement. Long-term goal: Based on the findings, a Phase II study would develop and test a multimedia approach to the training. The goal is an educational series that is evidence-based, inspirational, and accessible to the mass market of couples facing cancer.