Impact of Perceived Partner Responsiveness on Preoperative Decision Conflict in Patients with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the current status of perceived partner responsiveness among married breast cancer patients and their spouses, and to analyze their effects on patients’ decisional conflict. Methods: Using convenience sampling, a total of 121 pairs of married breast cancer inpatients and their spouses were recruited from a tertiary specialized hospital in Zhejiang Province between December 2023 and November 2024. Data were collected with a general information questionnaire, the Perceived Partner Responsiveness Scale, and the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS). Categorical data were described using frequencies and percentages, while continuous data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. Paired-sample t-tests were employed to compare differences in perceived partner responsiveness between couples. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between both partners’ perceived responsiveness and patient decisional conflict. With patient decisional conflict as the dependent variable, a multiple linear regression model was constructed, incorporating both patient- and spouse-perceived partner responsiveness to analyze their impact on patient decisional conflict. Results: Out of 160 questionnaires distributed, 121 valid questionnaires were returned, yielding an effective response rate of 75.63%. Spouses reported significantly higher levels of perceived partner responsiveness than patients, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Perceived partner responsiveness reported by both patients and spouses was negatively correlated with patient decisional conflict (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that marital duration, education level, implant reconstruction, and patient-perceived partner responsiveness were independent influencing factors of decisional conflict in married breast cancer patients (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Perceived partner responsiveness in both breast cancer patients and their spouses is closely associated with the level of decisional conflict perceived by the patient. Therefore, implementing decision support interventions developed based on both spouses may be more effective in reducing patients’ decisional conflict.