Effectiveness trial of an online self-help intervention for sexual problems after cancer
Abstract
Sexual dysfunction affects over 60% of cancer survivors. Internet interventions have improved sexual function, but with considerable clinician guidance, restricting scalability. This pragmatic trial evaluated an online, self-help intervention. As with many unguided digital interventions, attrition was high. Given low numbers in other groups, this paper focuses on 30% of female patient participants who completed 3-month questionnaires and visited the intervention site (N = 60). Benefits included increased sexually active individuals at follow-up (p < 0.001, Effect size = 0.54), improved sexual function (p < 0.001, Effect size = -0.76, N = 41), and increased use of sexual aids (p = 0.01, Effect size=-0.14, N = 58). The intervention has been revised to improve patient engagement.
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Only a few web-based interventions have addressed sexual dysfunction following cancer, and these have been directed to middle-aged women with breast or gynaecological cancer and men with prostate cancer.
“Until now, only a few web-based interventions have addressed sexual dysfunction following cancer, and these have been directed to middle-aged (mean age > 50 years) women with breast or gynaecological cancer (Hummel et al., 2017; Schover et al., 2020) and men with prostate cancer (Wootten et al., 2017; Schover et al., 2012).”
From Efficacy of a web-based psychoeducational intervention, Fex-can sex, for young adult childhood cancer survivors with sexual dysfunction: A randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as Schover et al., 2020
Previous web-based interventions that reported positive effects on sexual problems were based on samples who were partnered to a greater extent than this sample.
“Previous web-based interventions that have reported positive effects on sexual problems have been based on samples who were partnered to a greater extent (Hummel et al., 2017; Schover et al., 2012; Schover et al., 2020; Wootten et al., 2017) than our sample.”
From Efficacy of a web-based psychoeducational intervention, Fex-can sex, for young adult childhood cancer survivors with sexual dysfunction: A randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as Schover et al., 2020
No effects were observed on orgasmic function or interest in sexual activity in previous web-based interventions.
“no effects were observed on orgasmic function (Schover et al., 2020; Wootten et al., 2017; Hummel et al., 2017) or interest in sexual activity (Schover et al., 2020).”
From Efficacy of a web-based psychoeducational intervention, Fex-can sex, for young adult childhood cancer survivors with sexual dysfunction: A randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as Schover et al., 2020
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- Authors
- Schover, L. R., Strollo, S., Stein, K., Fallon, E., & Smith, T.
- Affiliations
- Will2Love, Houston, USA;
- American Cancer Society (US)
- Emory University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Schover, Leslie R.
- Venue
- Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2020-05-13
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 576-588
- ISSN
- 0092-623X (ISSN-L)
- 1521-0715
- OpenAlex
- W3024055639
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 2.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- sexual dysfunction, cancer survivors, online self-help intervention, digital health interventions, sexual function, sexual activity, attrition, female cancer survivors, patient engagement
- MeSH terms
- Cancer Survivors, Sexual Health, Internet-Based Intervention, Adult, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Orgasm, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological
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