2025 Volume 45 Pages 784-797
Purpose: This study aimed to provide an overview of relevant studies within and outside Japan focusing on the experiences of partners living with patients undergoing radical prostatectomy while integrating and clarifying research findings.
Methods: Using the integrative literature review method, 26 manuscripts were analyzed.
Results: Most studies were from outside Japan. Many of the reports focused on both partners and patients. The identified partner experiences included “Navigating changes in sexual relationships,” “feeling dissatisfied that the patient’s urine leakage will threaten one’s own lifestyle,” “one’s physical and mental health being impacted by the cancer diagnosis and the patient’s state of physical and mental health,” “taking on a supportive role and overcoming this difficulty together,” “leaving the illness and postoperative complications up to the patient,” and “wanting social support and specialized support.”
Conclusions: Clearly, a rich relationship between the partner and patient should be encouraged whereby loving feelings can be confirmed without sexual intercourse, and helping them view the effects of urine leakage on lifestyle to be temporary. Moreover, partners’ needs and feelings should be considered.
