TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual Health Outcomes of Adolescent and Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Survivors and Their Partners
T2 - Protocol of a Dyadic Mixed Methods Study
AU - Acquati, Chiara
AU - Wittmann, Daniela
AU - Roth, Michael
AU - Rosen, Allison
AU - Carr, Lynley Christian
AU - Gresham, Zachary
AU - Ionescu, Elena
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to express their gratitude to all the patients’ advocates and caregivers who have provided critical feedback and suggestions in the development of the study. This research was funded by the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) through a SMSNA Foundation Research Grant awarded to CA, PhD, LMSW.
Publisher Copyright:
© Chiara Acquati, Daniela Wittmann, Michael Roth, Allison Rosen, Lynley Christian Carr, Zachary Gresham, Elena Ionescu.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Background: Sexual dysfunction represents a critical aspect of quality of life for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Studies have consistently documented that adolescents and young adults report greater psychological and physical morbidity than older survivors and healthy peers, including elevated rates of sexual dysfunction, often accompanied by lower satisfaction with sex life and delays in meeting sexual milestones. Moreover, sexual dysfunction, body image concerns, and fertility status affect their confidence in being both physically and emotionally intimate. Despite this evidence, limited research has investigated the influence of psychosocial and interpersonal factors on sexual health outcomes reported by this group. This constitutes a significant gap in the provision of comprehensive sexual health care for adolescent- and young adult–onset cancer survivors, especially since greater emphasis has been recently placed on the biopsychosocial model of sexuality and dyadic approaches to intervention and treatment. In comparison to other cancer types, the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been increasing at an alarming rate for the adolescent and young adult group. Patients with early-onset CRC experience elevated rates of sexual dysfunction, psychological distress, and social and physical burden, often resulting from issues with bowel control, incontinence, and body image. Objective: This study uses an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach to (1) characterize sexual function, sexual distress, dyadic coping, infertility-related distress, relationship and mental health outcomes of adolescent and young adult CRC survivors within the first 5 years post diagnosis and their partners; (2) examine the reciprocal influence of sexual function and dyadic coping behaviors on sexual distress; and (3) identify interpersonal or couple characteristics associated with coping with sexual dysfunction and its associated distress. Methods: Participating couples (n=60) will complete a quantitative web-based survey investigating sexual function, sexual distress, dyadic coping, infertility-related distress, emotional functioning, relationship satisfaction, and body image (cancer survivors only). A subset of 20 couples will participate in an in-depth dyadic interview with 2 members of the research team to further explore couple-based strategies implemented to cope with cancer-related sexual dysfunction and distress. Results: The study received institutional review board approval. Recruitment and enrollment of couples began in July 2022. Conclusions: Results will provide a deeper understanding of the challenges couples experience as they navigate sexual intimacy after CRC treatment by highlighting the role of interpersonal processes. These findings will inform a dyadic intervention for young couples at risk of greater sexual distress in the aftermath of CRC.
AB - Background: Sexual dysfunction represents a critical aspect of quality of life for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Studies have consistently documented that adolescents and young adults report greater psychological and physical morbidity than older survivors and healthy peers, including elevated rates of sexual dysfunction, often accompanied by lower satisfaction with sex life and delays in meeting sexual milestones. Moreover, sexual dysfunction, body image concerns, and fertility status affect their confidence in being both physically and emotionally intimate. Despite this evidence, limited research has investigated the influence of psychosocial and interpersonal factors on sexual health outcomes reported by this group. This constitutes a significant gap in the provision of comprehensive sexual health care for adolescent- and young adult–onset cancer survivors, especially since greater emphasis has been recently placed on the biopsychosocial model of sexuality and dyadic approaches to intervention and treatment. In comparison to other cancer types, the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been increasing at an alarming rate for the adolescent and young adult group. Patients with early-onset CRC experience elevated rates of sexual dysfunction, psychological distress, and social and physical burden, often resulting from issues with bowel control, incontinence, and body image. Objective: This study uses an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach to (1) characterize sexual function, sexual distress, dyadic coping, infertility-related distress, relationship and mental health outcomes of adolescent and young adult CRC survivors within the first 5 years post diagnosis and their partners; (2) examine the reciprocal influence of sexual function and dyadic coping behaviors on sexual distress; and (3) identify interpersonal or couple characteristics associated with coping with sexual dysfunction and its associated distress. Methods: Participating couples (n=60) will complete a quantitative web-based survey investigating sexual function, sexual distress, dyadic coping, infertility-related distress, emotional functioning, relationship satisfaction, and body image (cancer survivors only). A subset of 20 couples will participate in an in-depth dyadic interview with 2 members of the research team to further explore couple-based strategies implemented to cope with cancer-related sexual dysfunction and distress. Results: The study received institutional review board approval. Recruitment and enrollment of couples began in July 2022. Conclusions: Results will provide a deeper understanding of the challenges couples experience as they navigate sexual intimacy after CRC treatment by highlighting the role of interpersonal processes. These findings will inform a dyadic intervention for young couples at risk of greater sexual distress in the aftermath of CRC.
KW - adolescence
KW - adolescent
KW - adolescent and young adult
KW - cancer
KW - colorectal cancer
KW - couples
KW - dyad
KW - dyadic research
KW - fertility
KW - infertility
KW - infertility-related distress
KW - mixed method
KW - mixed methods design
KW - oncology
KW - reproductive health
KW - sexual dysfunction
KW - sexual health
KW - young adult
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U2 - 10.2196/41831
DO - 10.2196/41831
M3 - Article
C2 - 36951909
AN - SCOPUS:85151473957
SN - 1929-0748
VL - 12
JO - JMIR Research Protocols
JF - JMIR Research Protocols
M1 - e41831
ER -