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A pilot, multisite, randomized controlled trial of a self-directed coping skills training intervention for couples facing prostate cancer: accrual, retention, and data collection issues

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine the acceptability of the methods used to evaluate Coping-Together, one of the first self-directed coping skill intervention for couples facing cancer, and to collect preliminary efficacy data.

Methods

Forty-two couples, randomized to a minimal ethical care (MEC) condition or to Coping-Together, completed a survey at baseline and 2 months after, a cost diary, and a process evaluation phone interview.

Results

One hundred seventy patients were referred to the study. However, 57 couples did not meet all eligibility criteria, and 51 refused study participation. On average, two to three couples were randomized per month, and on average it took 26 days to enrol a couple in the study. Two couples withdrew from MEC, none from Coping-Together. Only 44 % of the cost diaries were completed, and 55 % of patients and 60 % of partners found the surveys too long, and this despite the follow-up survey being five pages shorter than the baseline one. Trends in favor of Coping-Together were noted for both patients and their partners.

Conclusions

This study identified the challenges of conducting dyadic research, and a number of suggestions were put forward for future studies, including to question whether distress screening was necessary and what kind of control group might be more appropriate in future studies.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a Clinical Oncological Society of Australia/Sanofi Aventis Advancing the Care for Prostate Care Patients Research Grant 2010.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Wilson Hall, 3506 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7, Canada

    Sylvie D. Lambert

  2. School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, HMRI Building, John Hunter Hospital Campus, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia

    Patrick McElduff

  3. Psycho-Oncology Research Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool, NSW, 1871, Australia

    Sylvie D. Lambert, Afaf Girgis, Janelle V. Levesque & Hayley Candler

  4. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia

    Tim W. Regan

  5. The University of Queensland, Mental Health Centre K Floor, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia

    Jane Turner

  6. Deakin Health Economics, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia

    Cathrine Mihalopoulos & Sophy T. F. Shih

  7. Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Karen Kayser

  8. Lake Macquarie Urology, Level 3, Suite 2 20 Smart Street, Charlestown, NSW, 2290, Australia

    Peter Chong

Authors
  1. Sylvie D. Lambert
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  2. Patrick McElduff
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  7. Hayley Candler
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  10. Karen Kayser
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  11. Peter Chong
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sylvie D. Lambert.

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Lambert, S.D., McElduff, P., Girgis, A. et al. A pilot, multisite, randomized controlled trial of a self-directed coping skills training intervention for couples facing prostate cancer: accrual, retention, and data collection issues. Support Care Cancer 24, 711–722 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2833-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2833-3

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