The Couples' Daily Health in Survivorship Study

What is the purpose of the study?

​Cardiovascular health often declines during and following cancer treatment, and researchers want to know how people’s daily stress and feelings about their relationships might influence cardiovascular and immune health. On average, people’s interactions with their partner have been related to health. This study is designed to help understand how people’s daily life with their partner relates to their well-being and cardiovascular and immune systems, including feelings of fatigue (tiredness) and negative mood, changes in heart rate, and levels of inflammation. The researchers will measure aspects of your immune system, heart rate, and daily health behaviors to see if these are related to your satisfaction with your partner in ways that could impact long-term health. Your participation in this study will help provide insight into the pathways through which relationships produce its substantial health effects.

What does the study involve?
The study involves a brief online screening questionnaire to determine eligibility. If you are eligible, there are multiple ways to participate, depending on interests and availability. Choose your own research adventure!

1. A baseline survey followed by a 7-day diary study with short questionnaires on a mobile app.

2. If interested in traveling to Purdue University, couples would complete one 2-hour study visit together 

3. If interested, wearing a heart rate monitor and collecting blood samples from the convenience of your home

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Because this research is designed in part to understand how your life with your partner is related to the functioning of your cardiovascular and immune systems, both partners must be willing to participate; you cannot take part in the study if your partner does not participate at the same time.

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What does the screening questionnaire involve?
The purpose of the screening questionnaire is to determine whether or not the couple is eligible to participate in the full study. Each member of interested couples will complete their own screening questionnaire that asks about your relationship status, current health conditions, current medications, health behaviors, and cancer history that may be related to your immune and cardiovascular systems.

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What does the baseline survey involve?

The initial 30-minute online survey will include several questionnaires about your health behaviors, relationship, and mood that may be related to your cardiovascular and immune systems.

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What does the in-person visit involve?

At the beginning of the in-person visit, we will measure your heart rate and blood pressure. We will place sensors on your chest and wrist to assess your heart rate and perspiration throughout the visit. Your blood pressure will also be measured at regular intervals throughout the visit. This information is of interest because it is related to risk for heart disease.

 

We will collect a small blood sample using remote collection device at the beginning and end of the in-person visit; this is the same device you will use during the 7-day diary portion of this study. The blood sample will be taken on your upper arm, similar to where vaccinations are given. A total of 0.04 teaspoon of blood will be collected during the visit. These samples will be used to examine the blood levels of hormones and immune function indicators.

 

Then, you and your partner will be asked to have several conversations. In the first conversation, each of you will be asked to discuss 2-3 positive events that have happened in your own personal life. Next, each of you will be asked to recount a past memory while the other partner listens. In the last discussion, you and your partner will be asked to discuss and try to resolve an area of disagreement. The topics will be chosen based on your ratings of common areas of disagreement. The research team will remain out of sight during these discussions. These conversations will be videotaped, and you will be asked about your reactions afterward.

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At the end of the in-person visit, you will receive detailed instructions on how to complete the 7-day diary portion of the study. You and your partner will be asked to download smartphone applications to complete the questionnaires. You will both be shown how to wear the heart rate monitor and how to complete the blood samples. You will receive kits at the in-person visit that contain the heart rate monitor and the remote sample collection devices. We will pick up the heart rate monitor and blood samples at the end of the 7-day study. This information is of interest because it is related to risk for heart disease and other chronic conditions.

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What does the 7-day diary involve?

You and your partner will start the 7-day diary portion the day after your in-person visit. The 7-day diary portion of this study includes short questionnaires on a mobile app to measure your daily stress, communication with your partner, and health behaviors. In order to help understand how your heart rate and inflammation changes may be related to aspects of relationships and to any stress you may be experiencing, you and your partner may each be asked to wear heart rate monitors each day and collect your own blood samples each morning before eating or drinking. All study procedures will be done in the convenience of your home.

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Everyone experiences changes in their heart rate and levels of inflammation. Studies have also linked changes in heart rate and inflammation to stress and to a person’s health and relationship behaviors. In order to help understand how your heart rate and inflammation changes may be related to aspects of relationships and to any stress you may be experiencing, you and your partner will each wear small heart monitors each day and collect your own blood samples each morning.

 

The heart rate monitor is light-weight, unobtrusive, and designed for long-term comfortable wear. The monitor provides physiological measurement and personalized guidance for a healthier lifestyle.

 

The remote sample collection device is small, easy, and virtually painless. Samples are taken on your upper arm, similar to where vaccinations are given, or on the tip of your finger. A total of 0.02 teaspoon of blood will be collected each day, totaling 0.11 teaspoon (less than 1/8th teaspoon) across the study. 

 

Who is eligible to be in the study?
You may be eligible for this study if:

• You or your partner had breast cancer and completed treatment

• You and your partner live together

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How would I benefit by participating?
~A report regarding changes in your heart rate and cardiovascular health

~A report with tips for effective communication strategies in relationships

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Will I be paid for participating?

If you participate remotely, you will receive up to $50, totaling $100 per couple. If you participate in person and complete all research activities, you will receive up to $125, totaling $250 per couple.

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Who are the investigators and where does the funding come from?
Our investigators are scientists in the Purdue University Colleges of Health and Human Sciences. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Need more info?
Click here to read the consent form (pdf)

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Ready to apply?
Click here to fill out the application

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If you know someone who might want to participate, please give them our contact information—we welcome referrals!

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Connect with Dr. Rosie Shrout and the research team by submitting the application or contact us at RelationshipsAndHealthLab@Purdue.edu or 812-518-9498.

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 IRB No. IRB-2022-538: “HRV and Inflammation in Breast Cancer Survivors and Their Partners”