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Characteristics of Breast Cancer Survivors That Predict Partners' Participation in Research

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Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Psycho-oncology couples' research frequently includes fewer than 50 % of those eligible.

Purpose

This research examined individual and relationship characteristics associated with recruitment and retention of breast cancer survivors' partners.

Methods

Investigators asked survivors from the Moving Beyond Cancer trial for permission to invite their partners to a parallel, longitudinal study.

Results

Of 384 survivors with male partners, 280 survivors provided consent to contact partners, and 164 partners completed both assessments. Backward stepwise regression indicated that greater family income and support from a partner and helpful other increased the likelihood of survivor consent to contact her partner. Greater family income, better survivor physical and emotional quality of life, and white ethnicity increased the likelihood of partner participation.

Conclusions

Breast cancer patients who are ethnic minorities, have lower socioeconomic status, or have poorer physical and mental quality of life appear less likely to participate in psycho-oncology couples' research, whereas women with supportive partners might be overrepresented.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a National Cancer Institute grant CA63028 and a California Breast Cancer program Grant 5PB-0172.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA

    Kysa M. Christie Ph.D. & Beth E. Meyerowitz Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Annette L. Stanton Ph.D.

  3. Office of Cancer Survivorship, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Julia H. Rowland Ph.D.

  4. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research and UCLA-LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center of Excellence, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, UCLA Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Patricia A. Ganz M.D.

Authors
  1. Kysa M. Christie Ph.D.
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  2. Beth E. Meyerowitz Ph.D.
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  3. Annette L. Stanton Ph.D.
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  4. Julia H. Rowland Ph.D.
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  5. Patricia A. Ganz M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Beth E. Meyerowitz Ph.D..

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Christie, K.M., Meyerowitz, B.E., Stanton, A.L. et al. Characteristics of Breast Cancer Survivors That Predict Partners' Participation in Research. ann. behav. med. 46, 107–113 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9477-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9477-7

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