Holistic Experiences and Strategies for Conducting Research With Couples.

In this article, we outline methodological considerations for conducting research interviews with couples. We draw from two qualitative men's health studies, both developed to explore social interactions between men and their partners of either sex in relation to their health practices. We utilized a combination of separate interviews and joint couple interviews. From these studies, we offer insight into our experiences of using both types of interview styles, addressing four key areas which span elements across the research project journey: (a) choosing a mode of interview, (b) ethical concerns in couple research,

Heterosexual couples and prostate cancer support groups: a gender relations analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Men diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) can receive supportive care from an array of sources including female partners and prostate cancer support groups (PCSGs). However, little is known about how heterosexual gender relations and supportive care play out among couples who attend PCSGs. Distilling such gender relation patterns is a key to understanding and advancing supportive care for men who experience PCa and their families. PURPOSE: This study describes connections between heterosexual gender relations and PCa supportive care among couples who attend PCSGs. METHOD: In-depth, individual interviews with 30 participants (15 men treated for PCa and their female partners) were analyzed using interpretive descriptive methods. Couples were asked about their relationships, supportive care needs, and attendance at PCSGs. A heterosexual gender relations framework was used to theorize the findings. RESULTS: Findings showed that traditional heterosexual gender relations guided most couples' PCa-related support both in and out of PCSGs. Three themes were inductively derived: "Not pushing too hard"-balancing women's support with men's autonomy, "Confreres"-men supporting men at PCSGs, and "Women are better at reassuring"-support from and for women. CONCLUSIONS: Couples both aligned to and resisted traditional gender roles to accommodate, explain, and rationalize how, as a couple, they approached PCa supportive care needs.