Wittmann Daniela, Carolan Marsha, Given Barbara, Skolarus Ted A, An Lawrence, Palapattu Ganesh, Montie James E
Department of Urology, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex Building 16, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2800, USA,
Support Care Cancer. 2014 Sep;22(9):2509-15. doi: 10.1007/s00520-014-2244-x. Epub 2014 Apr 13.
Prostate cancer survivors' post-surgery sexual problems are well documented and long lasting. Partners' distress in this context leads to psychological morbidity which is poorly understood. Given the prevalence of prostate cancer diagnoses in older men, partners' distress represents a public health concern. This study elucidates an important aspect of partners' distress which has hitherto been undocumented. It can lead to further research and health-care provisions that will support couples in prostate cancer survivorship towards improved mental health and health outcomes.
Partner sexual function has been viewed as a factor in men's erectile function recovery after prostatectomy for prostate cancer. However, patients' and partners' perceptions on the role of the partner in couples' sexual recovery has not been studied. We wanted to understand those perceptions and to see whether their perceptions were congruent.
Men and partners were recruited from a previous study and interviewed separately about the role of the partner. Interview transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory with the help of NVivo software.
Ten men and nine partners participated; most were more than 1 year past surgery. Men were 62, and partners were 58 years old on average. Nine men had erectile dysfunction. Six female partners were post-menopausal, and a participating male partner had post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction. Men and partners agreed that partners provide emotional and logistical support. Both perceived the partner's own sexual interest, not function, as critical to the couple's sexual recovery. Some men felt pressured by partners' initiative, feeling insecure about sexual performance. Men were unaware of partners' sexual needs or needs for support. Partners expressed those needs but were unsure of what kind of support they needed.
Partners' sexual and support needs during couples' sexual recovery after prostatectomy should be acknowledged and addressed as a legitimate aspect of research and care for men recovering from prostatectomy.
前列腺癌幸存者术后的性功能问题已有充分记录且持续时间长。伴侣在这种情况下的痛苦会导致心理疾病，而对此的了解却很少。鉴于老年男性前列腺癌诊断的普遍性，伴侣的痛苦成为一个公共卫生问题。本研究阐明了伴侣痛苦的一个重要方面，这方面迄今尚未有文献记载。它可以引发进一步的研究和医疗保健措施，以支持前列腺癌幸存者的夫妻改善心理健康和健康状况。
伴侣的性功能被视为前列腺癌前列腺切除术后男性勃起功能恢复的一个因素。然而，患者及其伴侣对伴侣在夫妻性恢复中所起作用的看法尚未得到研究。我们想了解这些看法，并看看他们的看法是否一致。
从之前的一项研究中招募男性及其伴侣，分别就伴侣的作用进行访谈。借助NVivo软件，使用扎根理论对访谈记录进行分析。
10名男性和9名伴侣参与；大多数人术后已超过1年。男性平均年龄62岁，伴侣平均年龄58岁。9名男性有勃起功能障碍。6名女性伴侣已绝经，一名参与研究的男性伴侣有前列腺切除术后勃起功能障碍。男性和伴侣一致认为伴侣提供情感和后勤支持。双方都认为伴侣自身的性兴趣而非性功能对夫妻性恢复至关重要。一些男性因伴侣的主动行为而感到压力，对性行为表现感到不安全。男性没有意识到伴侣的性需求或支持需求。伴侣表达了这些需求，但不确定他们需要何种支持。
前列腺切除术后夫妻性恢复期间伴侣的性需求和支持需求应得到承认，并作为前列腺切除术后康复男性研究和护理的一个合理方面加以解决。
