Partnering: An exploration of the process occurring between couples engaged in a Partner Breast Exam Program

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of what happens when partners participate in the Partner Breast Exam Program. A qualitative research design, using a grounded theory approach was used to understand the perspective of the couples participating in "Men Can Too" a Partner Breast Exam program. This approach was chosen because the experience of participation in Partner Breast Exam is "unchartered territory." Preliminary findings suggest that the process of partnering results in a synergy between the couples. The three processes that comprise the Dynamics of a Synergistic Couple include: Sharing, Dyad: Male/Female Interaction, and Motivation. Partnering, by removing barriers such as fear, can promote a shared journey toward health for a couple, where they become synergistic partners in health, when they share the burden.