Treatment Satisfaction With Couplelinks Online Intervention to Promote Dyadic Coping in Young Couples Affected by Breast Cancer
BackgroundThis study evaluated participant satisfaction with “Couplelinks,” an online psychological intervention designed for younger couples coping with breast cancer. The program included six experiential learning exercises (plus one optional module), psychoeducational information, and support fro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.862555/full |
| _version_ | 1811243972827283456 |
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| author | Karen Fergus Karen Fergus Adina Tanen Saunia Ahmad Saunia Ahmad Sandra Gardner Sandra Gardner Ellen Warner Deborah McLeod Joanne Stephen Wendy Carter Amanda Periera |
| author_facet | Karen Fergus Karen Fergus Adina Tanen Saunia Ahmad Saunia Ahmad Sandra Gardner Sandra Gardner Ellen Warner Deborah McLeod Joanne Stephen Wendy Carter Amanda Periera |
| author_sort | Karen Fergus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThis study evaluated participant satisfaction with “Couplelinks,” an online psychological intervention designed for younger couples coping with breast cancer. The program included six experiential learning exercises (plus one optional module), psychoeducational information, and support from a personal mental health professional.ObjectiveThe primary objectives were to examine participants’ perceptions of: the online intervention’s structure and content; the value of including a professional facilitator; and benefits and drawbacks of the program.MethodsA treatment satisfaction questionnaire comprised of Likert indices and open-ended questions pertaining to treatment satisfaction was completed by 26 patients and 27 male partners (N = 53) approximately 1–2 weeks following the intervention which occurred in the context of a randomized controlled trial. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize satisfaction ratings and generalized linear models with fixed effect for gender were used to test for differences in male-female outcomes. A thematic analysis was undertaken in order to understand, organize and summarize the qualitative textual feedback.ResultsParticipants reported an overall satisfaction rating of 4.3 out of 5 (SD = 0.54) with patient satisfaction ratings being higher than that of male partners’ (p = 0.01). The majority of participants considered the facilitator’s role to be necessary 4.6 (SD = 0.60), and found the program to be convenient 4.1 (SD = 0.81) despite some participants struggling to keep up with the modules. Subjective data revealed participants valued the convenience and flexibility of the online intervention and appreciated the program’s involvement of both partners. Participants also reported that including a professional facilitator humanized the intervention, served as motivation to progress through the program, facilitated insight into their relationship, and was reassuring. Experiential gains noted by participants included that the program: helped couples to open channels of communication; prompted them to designate quality time for one another; evoked feelings of unity and togetherness; and inspired new insight in the relationship.ConclusionSuch feedback supports the feasibility and acceptability of the Couplelinks program while offering directions for improvement of online couple-based interventions in cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:17:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ba599d15c734588a03525985cb5796b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:17:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ba599d15c734588a03525985cb5796b2022-12-22T03:29:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-06-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.862555862555Treatment Satisfaction With Couplelinks Online Intervention to Promote Dyadic Coping in Young Couples Affected by Breast CancerKaren Fergus0Karen Fergus1Adina Tanen2Saunia Ahmad3Saunia Ahmad4Sandra Gardner5Sandra Gardner6Ellen Warner7Deborah McLeod8Joanne Stephen9Wendy Carter10Amanda Periera11Psychosocial Oncology Lab, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, CanadaOdette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, CanadaSchool of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaOdette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, CanadaToronto Psychology Clinic, Toronto, ON, CanadaRotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, CanadaDivision of Biostatistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaOdette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, CanadaSchool of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, CanadaClinical Neurosciences, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, CanadaToronto Academic Pain Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON, CanadaPsychosocial Oncology Lab, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, CanadaBackgroundThis study evaluated participant satisfaction with “Couplelinks,” an online psychological intervention designed for younger couples coping with breast cancer. The program included six experiential learning exercises (plus one optional module), psychoeducational information, and support from a personal mental health professional.ObjectiveThe primary objectives were to examine participants’ perceptions of: the online intervention’s structure and content; the value of including a professional facilitator; and benefits and drawbacks of the program.MethodsA treatment satisfaction questionnaire comprised of Likert indices and open-ended questions pertaining to treatment satisfaction was completed by 26 patients and 27 male partners (N = 53) approximately 1–2 weeks following the intervention which occurred in the context of a randomized controlled trial. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize satisfaction ratings and generalized linear models with fixed effect for gender were used to test for differences in male-female outcomes. A thematic analysis was undertaken in order to understand, organize and summarize the qualitative textual feedback.ResultsParticipants reported an overall satisfaction rating of 4.3 out of 5 (SD = 0.54) with patient satisfaction ratings being higher than that of male partners’ (p = 0.01). The majority of participants considered the facilitator’s role to be necessary 4.6 (SD = 0.60), and found the program to be convenient 4.1 (SD = 0.81) despite some participants struggling to keep up with the modules. Subjective data revealed participants valued the convenience and flexibility of the online intervention and appreciated the program’s involvement of both partners. Participants also reported that including a professional facilitator humanized the intervention, served as motivation to progress through the program, facilitated insight into their relationship, and was reassuring. Experiential gains noted by participants included that the program: helped couples to open channels of communication; prompted them to designate quality time for one another; evoked feelings of unity and togetherness; and inspired new insight in the relationship.ConclusionSuch feedback supports the feasibility and acceptability of the Couplelinks program while offering directions for improvement of online couple-based interventions in cancer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.862555/fullbreast cancercouplesinterventiononlinedyadic copingpsychosocial |
| spellingShingle | Karen Fergus Karen Fergus Adina Tanen Saunia Ahmad Saunia Ahmad Sandra Gardner Sandra Gardner Ellen Warner Deborah McLeod Joanne Stephen Wendy Carter Amanda Periera Treatment Satisfaction With Couplelinks Online Intervention to Promote Dyadic Coping in Young Couples Affected by Breast Cancer Frontiers in Psychology breast cancer couples intervention online dyadic coping psychosocial |
| title | Treatment Satisfaction With Couplelinks Online Intervention to Promote Dyadic Coping in Young Couples Affected by Breast Cancer |
| title_full | Treatment Satisfaction With Couplelinks Online Intervention to Promote Dyadic Coping in Young Couples Affected by Breast Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Treatment Satisfaction With Couplelinks Online Intervention to Promote Dyadic Coping in Young Couples Affected by Breast Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Treatment Satisfaction With Couplelinks Online Intervention to Promote Dyadic Coping in Young Couples Affected by Breast Cancer |
| title_short | Treatment Satisfaction With Couplelinks Online Intervention to Promote Dyadic Coping in Young Couples Affected by Breast Cancer |
| title_sort | treatment satisfaction with couplelinks online intervention to promote dyadic coping in young couples affected by breast cancer |
| topic | breast cancer couples intervention online dyadic coping psychosocial |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.862555/full |
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