Morgan et al. (2011)

To evaluate the effects of pain and financial concerns as stressors on the QOL of cancer patients and their spouses

Cohort study

The couple’s relationship quality is directly affected by intensity of pain but the quality of the relationship with the female carer may lessen the negative effect of pain

Mortality rates were high in male patients, causing a reduction in numbers of patients followed up. There were high rates of curative cancers, affecting results of the cohort, as patients and their spouses would not show emotional distress in follow up assessments