"We Cannot Have any Negativity": A secondary analysis of expectancies for the experience of emotion among women with gynecologic cancer.

This study aimed to elucidate whether gynecologic cancer patients and their support persons have certain expectancies for emotion and whether these expectancies, if they exist, affect cancer-related communication. Semi-structured interviews ( = 34) were conducted separately with 18 patients and one of their support persons ( = 16). Thematic analysis revealed a subset of patients and support persons expected patients to not have any negative emotions, which patients also reported they perceived from support persons, and that these expectancies could affect cancer-related communication.

Reports of Sharing and Withholding Cancer-Related Information by Patients With Gynecologic Cancer and Their Supporters.

Purpose: To examine patients' with gynecologic cancer and supporters' reports of sharing and withholding cancer-related information during oncology visits, with a focus on navigating communication encounters more effectively.

Participants & Setting: 18 women who were recently diagnosed with gynecologic cancer and their supporters (N = 16) were recruited from the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick.

Methodologic Approach: Data were collected via audio-recorded semistructured interviews and analyzed to determine the types of information that patients and supporters share or withhold during oncology visits.

The Role of Response Perceptions in Couples' Ongoing Cancer-Related Disclosure.

In efforts to better understand the intricate nature of response, we tested a four-dimension structure of response patterns (measured as support, reciprocity, emotional reaction, and avoidance) as well as four single dimension models within the context of couples managing cancer. All models incorporate dyadic data, including both patient and partner perceptions that relational quality influences response patterns, and response patterns influence ongoing disclosure (measured as breadth and depth). Participants were 95 dyads in which one partner had been diagnosed with cancer.

Planning a Stigmatized Nonvisible Illness Disclosure: Applying the Disclosure Decision-Making Model.

This study applied the disclosure decision-making model (DD-MM) to explore how individuals plan to disclose nonvisible illness (Study 1), compared to planning to disclose personal information (Study 2). Study 1 showed that perceived stigma from the illness negatively predicted disclosure efficacy; closeness predicted anticipated response (i.e.

Perceptions of Health Information Seeking and Partner Advocacy in the Context of a Cardiology Office Visit: Connections with Health Outcomes.

This paper explores perceived active health information seeking, informal advocacy by a partner or other, cardiac efficacy, and cardiovascular health indicators for patients surveyed while visiting their cardiologist. Participants include 208 patients with a diagnosed heart condition. Variables include predisposing characteristics (e.

Communication Efficacy and Couples' Cancer Management: Applying a Dyadic Appraisal Model.

The purpose of the present study was to apply Berg and Upchurch's (2007) developmental-conceptual model to understand better how couples cope with cancer. Specifically, we hypothesized a dyadic appraisal model in which proximal factors (relational quality), dyadic appraisal (prognosis uncertainty), and dyadic coping (communication efficacy) predicted adjustment (cancer management). The study was cross-sectional and included 83 dyads in which one partner had been diagnosed with and/or treated for cancer.

Decision making in cancer-related topic avoidance.

In this article, the authors use the Disclose Decision-Making Model to explore cancer-related topic avoidance among cancer patients and their partners. Participants include 95 dyads in which 1 partner had been diagnosed and/or treated for cancer. Variables of interest include death-, future-, sexuality-, and burden-related topic avoidance and dimensions of the Disclosure Decision-Making Model including information assessment, receiver assessment, relational quality, and discloser efficacy.

Elderly patients' heart-related conditions: Disclosing health information differs by target.

Americans are living longer, and many are managing at least one chronic illness. Having people with whom to disclose health information is a salient component of managing a chronic health condition, such as heart disease. The purpose of this study is to explore differences in elderly patients' health disclosures by target (i.

A dyadic approach: applying a developmental-conceptual model to couples coping with chronic illness.

The purpose of the present study was to apply Berg and Upchurch's developmental-conceptual model toward a better understanding of how couples cope with chronic illness. Specifically, a model was hypothesized in which proximal factors (relational quality), dyadic appraisal (illness interference), and dyadic coping (partner support) influence adjustment (health condition management). The study was cross-sectional and included 308 dyads in which one partner has a chronic health condition.

"I tell my partner everything . . . (or not)": patients' perceptions of sharing heart-related information with their partner.

This study is grounded in theories of information management. Patients with a diagnosed heart-related condition (N=253) completed a survey regarding their perceptions of sharing/not sharing information with a partner about their health condition. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Patients' and partners' perspectives of chronic illness and its management.

This study is framed in theories of illness uncertainty (Babrow, A. S., 2007, Problematic integration theory.

Assessing health diagnosis disclosure decisions in relationships: testing the disclosure decision-making model.

Illness affects millions of Americans each year, and the disclosure of health conditions can facilitate access to social support, in addition to other physical and physiological benefits. This article tests the Disclosure Decision-Making Model (DD-MM; Greene, 2009 ) to predict factors that influence the likelihood of disclosing (and past disclosure of) nonvisible physical or mental health-related information. One hundred eighty-seven (n = 187) people were recruited for a study to report on both disclosing and not disclosing a nonvisible health condition.

Beyond initial disclosure: the role of prognosis and symptom uncertainty in patterns of disclosure in relationships.

This study is framed in Greene's (2009) health disclosure decision-making model (DD-MM) and explores the role of prognosis and symptom uncertainty in patterns of disclosure in a close relationship. Toward this end, an uncertainty and disclosure model is hypothesized in which prognosis and symptom uncertainty and relational quality are expected to predict perceived partner support, communication efficacy, and the depth, breadth, and frequency of disclosure to a partner about a chronic health condition. Patients with diagnosed heart-related conditions visiting a private medical office were recruited to complete anonymous surveys.