A Couple-Based Communication Intervention for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survivors and Their Caregiving Partners: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Change in Process Measures

Abstract Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) poses significant challenges for recipients and their caregiving partners. Couples may refrain from talking about treatment-related fears and concerns in order to minimize distress. This single-group, pre-post study examined feasibility and acceptability of an intervention designed to optimize communication between HCT patients and partners; it also assessed change in process measures. Couples met with a therapist five times to learn skills for disclosing illness-related thoughts and feelings and responding supportively to one another. The extent to which participants disclosed thoughts, feelings, and information during the session, and felt supported, was assessed at the close of each session. Forty of 89 eligible couples consented (45%). Thirty couples commenced intervention 1-month post-transplant; 26 of these completed all sessions (87%) and 27 completed follow up (90%). Ratings of self-disclosure and feeling supported by one's partner increased linearly across intervention sessions, among both patients and caregivers, p s