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- Title
The development and validation of a quality‐of‐life measure to assess partner morbidity in benign prostatic enlargement.
- Authors
Sells, H.; Donovan, J.; Ewings, P.; Macdonagh, R.P.
- Abstract
Objective To investigate morbidity in the partners of patients with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) by developing and validating a disease‐specific questionnaire. Patients and methods Phase 1 of the study comprised preliminary interviews with 15 patients who had newly diagnosed BPE, and with their partners, to determine the relevant issues for the partners. In phase 2, using these issues, a questionnaire was produced and tested on the 15 partners. In phase 3 the questionnaire was completed by 90 further partners, 50 at interview and the next 40 by post. As part of the validation process, the partners were also asked to complete the Short‐Form‐36 questionnaire, and the patients the Internation Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the ICSmale questionnaires. Results In phase 1 all 15 of the partners were affected by the patients’ disease and nine issues were identified. In phase 2, of the 90 partners, only one had no morbidity from the patient’s symptoms; 71% were worried that the patient may have cancer and 69% concerned that the patient may require an operation. Only six partners were present at the patients’ urological consultation. The partners’ questionnaire scores were related significantly to the Mental Health and Vitality domains of the SF36 and with the patients’ IPSS. Conclusions The study confirmed the presence of significant morbidity in the partners of patients with BPE. The degree of partner morbidity was related to the severity of the patients’ symptoms. Many of the questionnaire issues can be addressed in the consulting room by open discussion with patient and partner.
- Subjects
PROSTATE diseases; QUALITY of life; SPOUSES; PATIENTS
- Publication
BJU International, 2000, Vol 85, Issue 4, p440
- ISSN
1464-4096
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1464-410X.2000.00525.x