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The Find Your PATHS (Pragmatic Assessment of a Tool to Help Survivors) to Sexual Health and Parenthood Study

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Fertility
Cancer-related Problem/Condition
Sexuality
Interventions
Behavioral: Online, interactive self-help program
Registration Number
NCT03345264
Lead Sponsor
American Cancer Society, Inc.
Brief Summary

Concerns with sexual health and fertility are common among cancer patients, survivors and their partners. Literature reviews suggest that over 60% of survivors have reproductive health problems yet fewer than 20% get professional help. This study will test the uptake, use and effectiveness of online, interactive self-help programs for men and women with cancer. Participants in the study will receive up to 6 months of access to the self-help programs without charge. Navigation through the programs can be personalized by setting goals and following links to the most relevant information. The programs cover all cancer sites and common treatments, explaining sexual and fertility side effects. Programs also include step-by-step cognitive behavioral self-help exercises, guidance on available medical treatment options, decision aids, and video stories with actual survivors as well as vignettes with actors. Information for same-sex couples is included. Programs include suggestions on how partners can work together to cope with sexual or fertility issues.

The primary hypothesis is that participants will report improvements in sexual function and satisfaction from baseline to 3-month follow-up. Secondary hypotheses will investigate whether more extensive use of the program is associated with better outcomes (dose-response effect) and whether the intervention also improves secondary outcomes such as anxiety, depression, relationship satisfaction, and seeking medical help. Analyses from the data will investigate how many people who are informed of the study decide to participate (uptake), as well as how often participants visit the program and which parts are used most. Both the male and female programs have previously been shown to help cancer survivors and partners in published clinical trials.

Participants will be encouraged to invite a sexual partner to join the study, but that will be optional. Partners will be able to be linked for statistical analysis through their unique study identification numbers. Participants' use of the websites will be electronically tracked and compared with questionnaire outcome measures. Outcome measures include online, self-report questionnaires completed at baseline and 3-month follow-up. At 6-month follow-up, participants will complete 2 online ratings of the helpfulness of the programs. Privacy and security are carefully protected. The entire website meets standards for HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Questionnaires are identified with study numbers rather than names or email addresses. Once the study data are analyzed, the list linking participant identifying information (names, email) and study numbers will be destroyed. Any publications resulting from the study will discuss group data and will not contain any information that could be used to identify an individual participant.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
361
Inclusion Criteria
  • Has had a diagnosis of cancer or is the intimate partner of a cancer patient/survivor
  • Has a concern or wants to learn more about cancer-related issues with sexuality or fertility
  • Has a way to access the website and questionnaires on the internet
Exclusion Criteria
  • Younger than age 18
  • Does not read and understand English well enough to use the website independently
  • Does not live in the United States
  • Potential participant has already subscribed to the male or female self-help program

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Cancer patients, survivors, and partnersOnline, interactive self-help program-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
PROMIS® (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Brief Sexual Profile v2 MaleChange from baseline to 3 months post consent

Construct: Sexual function and satisfaction in men; Total Score Range: 0-33; Higher values represent a better outcome

PROMIS® (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Brief Sexual Profile v2 FemaleChange from baseline to 3 months post consent

Construct: Sexual function and satisfaction in women; Total Score Range: 0-49; Higher values represent a better outcome

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Abbreviated Dyadic Adjustment Scale-4Change from baseline to 3 months post consent

Construct: Relationship happiness; Total Score Range: 0-21; Higher scores represent a better outcome

PROMIS® (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Brief Anxiety ScaleChange from baseline to 3 months post consent

Construct: General anxiety level; Total Score Range: 0-16; Higher scores represent a worse outcome

PROMIS® (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Brief Depression ScaleChange from baseline to 3 months post consent

Construct: Depressed Mood; Total Score Range: 0-16; Higher scores represent a worse outcome

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Will2Love, LLC

🇺🇸

Houston, Texas, United States

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