Perceived family health in persons with prostate cancer and their family members.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To describe perceived family health in persons with prostate cancer and their family members. An additional purpose was to describe the associations between the background variables of persons with prostate cancer and their family members and perceived family health. BACKGROUND Prostate cancer in one family member affects the health of the whole family. It is important to study perceived family health in families of persons with prostate cancer and associated factors. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. METHOD Data were collected using the Family Functioning, Health and Social Support (FAFHES) scale, modified for use in this study. Questionnaires were distributed to 100 persons with prostate cancer treated with surgery or radiation therapy and 100 family members at one Finnish university hospital in April-October 2009. Responses were received from 76 persons and 71 family members, a response rate of 74%. RESULTS Persons with prostate cancer and family members rated family health good despite prostate cancer. Family members reported higher levels of illness-related ill-being than persons with prostate cancer. Family health was associated with the person's age, basic education, employment status, number of family member's visits to the hospitalised patient, first symptom of prostate cancer and previous hospitalisations were associated with. Family health was associated with the family member's basic and vocational education. CONCLUSIONS The results show that nursing care should pay attention to family members of persons with prostate cancer and that support to them should be a natural part of a good care of persons with prostate cancer. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The quality of prostate cancer care should be improved to provide more individualised and family-focussed services.