A literature review on the mutual impact of the spousal caregiver-cancer patients dyads: 'Communication', 'reciprocal influence', and 'caregiver-patient congruence'

The findings highlight the importance of a perspective that focuses on the nature of the relationship between couples coping with cancer and the quality of their communication with each other. It is recognised that communication may act as a fundamental element of the abovementioned three concepts. Better communication between couples would probably facilitate reciprocal influence and caregiver-patient congruence, which in turn would have a positive effect on intimacy between the couple and improve the caregiving outcomes.