Aims This study aims to measure any changes in the marital relationship during the first year after a diagnosis of prostate cancer, identify the demographic characteristics that influenced such changes, and measure changes related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Background Knowledge is limited on the impact of a diagnosis of prostate cancer on the marital relationship and HRQoL of patients and their spouses. Design A 1-year longitudinal study. Methods Data were collected from five Finnish hospitals between October 2013 and January 2017. Of the 350 recruited couples (N = 700), 179 patients and 166 spouses completed the Marital Questionnaire and the RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1 year after diagnosis. Results No major changes were found in the marital relationship during the follow-up period. The spouses reported statistically significant changes in their marital relationships, but the patients did not. Furthermore, changes in the marital relationship were not associated with the patients' HRQoL. Among spouses, emotional well-being was associated with changes in the marital relationship. Conclusion The marital relationship was relevant in terms of the spouses' HRQoL during the first year after a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Nurses and other healthcare providers should assess counselling and support provided to spouses individually.Peer reviewe
