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Purpose/Objectives To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a newly developed web-based, couple-oriented intervention called Prostate Cancer Education and Resources for Couples (PERC). Design Quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods approach. Setting Oncology outpatient clinics at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC–Chapel Hill. Sample 26 patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa) and their partners. Methods Pre- and postpilot quantitative assessments and a postpilot qualitative interview were conducted. Main Research Variables General and PCa-specific symptoms, quality of life, psychosocial factors, PERC's ease of use, and web activities. Findings Improvement was shown in some PCa-specific and general symptoms (small effect sizes for patients and small-to-medium effect sizes for partners), overall quality of life, and physical and social domains of quality of life for patients (small effect sizes). Web activity data indicated high PERC use. Qualitative and quantitative analyses indicated that participants found PERC easy to use and understand, as well as engaging, of high quality, and relevant. Overall, participants were satisfied with PERC and reported that PERC improved their knowledge about symptom management and communication as a couple. Conclusions PERC was a feasible, acceptable method of reducing the side effects of PCa treatment–related symptoms and improving quality of life. Implications for Nursing PERC has the potential to reduce the negative impacts of symptoms and enhance quality of life for patients with localized PCa and their partners, particularly for those who live in rural areas and have limited access to post-treatment supportive care.

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The type and quantity of information needed varies between patients who actively seek information and those who tend to avoid information. We analyzed data from a longitudinal study of adult cancer patients from outpatient clinics for whom information needs and behaviors were assessed by survey before and after treatment. We evaluated the relationships between information-seeking style (active, moderately active and passive styles) and demographics, cancer type, and health status for the pretreatment and posttreatment periods and overall. The Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) approach was used to model the log odds of more active to more passive information-seeking preferences taking into consideration both the pretreatment and posttreatment periods.Results-Analyses included 731 case participants, including female breast cancer patients (51%), male genitourinary cancer patients (18%), and lung cancer patients of both sexes (10%). At pretreatment, 17% reported an active information-seeking style, 69% were moderately active, and 14% were passive. During this period, 19% of those with at least some college education reported being very active compared to 14% of those with less education. With adjustment for all other covariates, male genitourinary and lung cancer patients had a higher odds of having a more active information-seeking style in the pretreatment than in the posttreatment period, with an odds of 4.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4-8.4) and 5.4 (95% CI: 2.7-10.6), respectively. Controlling for all covariates, breast cancer patients had 1.5 (95% CI: 1.0-2.1) times higher odds of being more active in seeking information than other patients.Conclusions-Public health researchers and clinicians must work together to develop the most effective strategy for meeting the informational needs of these patients before and after treatment.