To Örebro University

Aim: To describe the experience of life the first year after surgery from the perspective of persons treated for colorectal cancer and their partners.

Background: Colorectal cancer is a common cancer form, and treatment can cause unpleasant side effects such as sexual dysfunction and bowel problems. Partners struggle to keep family life normal and provide support. Little is known about couples' experiences a year after treatment for colorectal cancer.

Design: Qualitative descriptive. Methods. Individual semi-structured interviews with 13 persons treated for colorectal cancer and their partners, a total of 26 participants.

Results: One theme was identified in the study; ` Life is back to normal and yet not': participants described living a normal but different life than before. Three subthemes were identified; ` Life has a shadow of death', ` The treated body sets the rules' and ` To share or not share the illness'.

Conclusions: Findings showed that both the patients' and their partners' lives were influenced by uncertainty and the condition of the patient. Attitudes varied towards sharing the illness. It was found that information needs varied both within and between couples. A future challenge to healthcare personnel is the obligation to meet the needs of both patients and their partners on the illness trajectory and recovery after treatment for colorectal cancer.

Relevance to clinical practice: Findings enhance the understanding of the impact of colorectal cancer on both patients and partners. Healthcare personnel need to assess both the patient's and partner's need for information, support and assistance. Support groups could be an effective tool for providing information, communication and support. Future studies are needed to evaluate such groups.

Purpose: To test whether a psycho-educational program affects mental wellbeing in persons treated for colorectal cancer and their next-of-kin.

Design: A prospective, longitudinal, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Surgical clinic at a university hospital in Sweden.

Sample: 105 colorectal cancer patients and 71 next-of-kin were allocated to a  sychoeducational program or to standard care.

Methods: Mental wellbeing was evaluated with the Mood Adjective Check List and The Hospital  nxiety and Depression Scale at baseline and at 1, 6, and 12 months. The program consisted of seven meetings, including lecture and time for reflection with other patients/nextof- kin.

Main Research Variable: Overall mood, activity, calmness, pleasantness, anxiety, and depression.

Findings: The psycho-educational program increased overall mood, calmness, and pleasantness among patients after one month but had no effect on activity, anxiety, or depression. The program had no effect on the overall mood, activity, calmness, pleasantness, anxiety, or depression among next-of-kin.

Conclusion: The psycho-educational program had a short-term effect on overall patient mood, calmness, and pleasantness but not on next-of-kin. Implications for Nursing: A psycho-educational program including lecture and time for reflection can be used with a colorectal cancer patient population to improve some aspects of their mental wellbeing.

Aim

The aim of this study was twofold: first, to describe the experience of being the next-of-kin of a person suffering from colorectal cancer (CRC), and second, to describe how a psychoeducational program (PEP) might contribute to the next-of-kin's life experience. Psychosocial interventions for next-of-kin to cancer patients are effective in improving quality of life issues, although there are conflicting results in previous studies. Most studies have evaluated the effects of PEP for mixed cancer groups but there is little knowledge about how next-of-kin to a person treated for CRC describe their experience of life and their experience of participating in a PEP.

Methods

The study used a qualitative descriptive design. Individual, open-ended interviews with each of the 18 next-of-kin, of persons receiving treatment for CRC, who participated in a PEP. Data were analyzed using content analysis.

Results

Based on the experiences described by the next-of-kin to a person treated for CRC, the subtheme; Facing a personal challenge was developed. From their described experiences of participating in a PEP, the subtheme Obtaining New Insights and Perspectives emerged. One main theme was finally identified; Finding a Wider Horizon. The study illuminates the importance of integrating the next-of-kin/family in the colorectal cancer care.

Conclusion

The findings from this study can be used to plan future interventions for next-of-kin to patients with CRC as it offers possibilities to understand the next-of-kin's situation and experience from participating in a PEP.