A Study on the Correlation between Disease Communication and Fear of Progression in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer and Their Spouses Based on the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model

doi:10.12104/j.issn.1674-4748.2025.17.006

Abstract：Objective: To explore the interactive relationship between disease communication and fear of progression in patients with advanced lung cancer and their spouses based on the actor-partner interdependence model. Methods: A convenience sampling method was used to select 216 pairs of patients with advanced lung cancer and their spouses from July 2022 to December 2024 as research subjects. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Cancer Related Communication Problems Scale (CRCP), and the Fear of Progression Questionnaire - Short Form (FoP-Q-SF). The actor-partner interdependence model was constructed to analyze the correlation between disease communication and fear of progression in both patients and spouses, as well as the specific actor and partner effects. Results: The disease communication score of patients with advanced lung cancer was (23.08±5.12) points, which was higher than that of their spouses (19.26±4.93) points (P<0.05). The fear of progression score of patients was (36.38±7.25), which was lower than that of their spouses (39.92±7.10) points (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that disease communication of both patients and spouses was positively correlated with fear of progression in both parties. Patient's disease communication was positively correlated with spouse's disease communication, and patient's fear of progression was positively correlated with spouse's fear of progression (all P<0.05). The actor-partner interdependence model showed that disease communication of patients and their spouses could positively influence their own fear of progression (β values were 0.550 and 0.607, respectively, both P<0.05), indicating significant actor effects; disease communication could also positively influence the fear of progression of the other party (β values were 0.258 and 0.247, respectively, both P<0.05), indicating significant partner effects. Conclusion: Disease communication between patients with advanced lung cancer and their spouses is closely related to fear of progression in both parties. Medical staff should pay close attention to the psychological status of patients and their spouses, and carry out targeted interventions by treating the patient and spouse as a whole, to improve disease communication and reduce the level of fear of progression.