Efficacy of a web-based psychoeducational intervention, Fex-can sex, for young adult childhood cancer survivors with sexual dysfunction: A randomized controlled trial

IF 3.6 2区医学 Q1 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health Pub Date : 2024-04-07 DOI:10.1016/j.invent.2024.100739

Kristina Fagerkvist , Kirsi Jahnukainen , Lisa Ljungman , Claudia Lampic , Lena Wettergren

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

No web-based interventions addressing sexual problems are available for young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Aim

This study aimed to test the efficacy of a web-based psychoeducational intervention, Fex-Can Sex, to alleviate sexual problems in young adults treated for cancer during childhood.

Method

This randomized controlled trial tested the effects of a 12-week, self-help, web-based intervention. Young adults (aged 19–40) reporting sexual dysfunction were drawn from a population-based national cohort of childhood cancer survivors and randomized to either an intervention group (IG, n = 142) or a wait-list control group (CG, n = 136). The primary outcome was ‘Satisfaction with sex life’ assessed by the PROMIS® SexFS v 2.0. Secondary outcomes included other SexFS domains, body image (BIS), emotional distress (HADS), health-related quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), and sex-related self-efficacy. Surveys were completed at baseline (T0), directly after the intervention (T1), and three months later (T2). The effects of the intervention were tested using t-test and linear mixed models, including intention-to-treat (ITT) and subgroups analysis. Adherence was based on log data extracted from the website system. The intervention included an open-ended question about perceived sexual problems.

Results

No effect of the intervention was found in the primary outcome. Regarding secondary outcomes, the IG reported less vaginal dryness (Lubrication subscale) than the CG at T1 (p = 0.048) and T2 (p = 0.023). Furthermore, at T1, the IG reported less emotional distress than the CG (p = 0.047). Subgroup analyses showed that those with greater sexual problems at T0 improved over time (T1 and T2), regardless of group allocation. Overall, adherence to the intervention was low and participants' activity levels did not change the results. Additionally, some members of the IG reported increased understanding and acceptance of their sexual problems.

Conclusion

The Fex-Can Sex intervention shows potential to improve sexual function, especially among those with greater dysfunction. To increase adherence and effect, we recommend the intervention to be further developed including more tailored content.

Clinical trial registration

ISRCTN Registry, trial number: 33081791 (registered on November 27, 2019).

查看原文本刊更多论文

基于网络的心理教育干预 "Fex-can sex "对患有性功能障碍的年轻成年儿童癌症幸存者的疗效：随机对照试验

背景目前还没有针对儿童癌症年轻幸存者性问题的网络干预措施。方法这项随机对照试验测试了为期 12 周的自助式网络干预措施的效果。报告性功能障碍的年轻人（19-40 岁）来自全国儿童癌症幸存者人群，他们被随机分配到干预组（IG，n = 142）或候补对照组（CG，n = 136）。主要结果是 "性生活满意度"，由 PROMIS® SexFS v 2.0 评估。次要结果包括其他 SexFS 领域、身体形象 (BIS)、情绪困扰 (HADS)、健康相关生活质量 (EORTC QLQ-C30) 和性相关自我效能。调查分别在基线（T0）、干预后（T1）和三个月后（T2）完成。干预效果采用 t 检验和线性混合模型进行检验，包括意向治疗（ITT）和亚组分析。依从性基于从网站系统中提取的日志数据。干预措施包括一个关于感知到的性问题的开放式问题。关于次要结果，在 T1（p = 0.048）和 T2（p = 0.023）时，IG 报告的阴道干涩程度（润滑分量表）低于 CG。此外，在 T1 阶段，IG 报告的情绪困扰少于 CG（p = 0.047）。分组分析表明，在 T0 阶段性问题较严重的患者，随着时间的推移（T1 和 T2），情况有所改善，与分组无关。总体而言，干预的坚持率较低，参与者的活动水平并没有改变结果。结论 "Fex-Can 性 "干预显示出改善性功能的潜力，尤其是对那些有较大性功能障碍的人。为了提高依从性和效果，我们建议进一步开发该干预措施，包括更多量身定制的内容。临床试验注册ISRCTN Registry，试验编号：33081791（注册日期：2019年11月27日）。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health Medicine-Health Informatics

CiteScore

6.50

自引率

9.30%

发文量

审稿时长

6 weeks

期刊介绍： Official Journal of the European Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ESRII) and the International Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ISRII). The aim of Internet Interventions is to publish scientific, peer-reviewed, high-impact research on Internet interventions and related areas. Internet Interventions welcomes papers on the following subjects: • Intervention studies targeting the promotion of mental health and featuring the Internet and/or technologies using the Internet as an underlying technology, e.g. computers, smartphone devices, tablets, sensors • Implementation and dissemination of Internet interventions • Integration of Internet interventions into existing systems of care • Descriptions of development and deployment infrastructures • Internet intervention methodology and theory papers • Internet-based epidemiology • Descriptions of new Internet-based technologies and experiments with clinical applications • Economics of internet interventions (cost-effectiveness) • Health care policy and Internet interventions • The role of culture in Internet intervention • Internet psychometrics • Ethical issues pertaining to Internet interventions and measurements • Human-computer interaction and usability research with clinical implications • Systematic reviews and meta-analysis on Internet interventions