Purpose: To compare the cost-effectiveness of a nurse-led sexual rehabilitation intervention with standard care in women treated with external beam radiotherapy, with or without brachytherapy, for gynaecological cancers.
Methods: Eligible women were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 112) or standard care (n = 117). Primary endpoint was sexual functioning at 12-months post-radiotherapy, assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).
Background: The multicentre randomised SPARC trial evaluated the efficacy of a nurse-led sexual rehabilitation intervention on sexual functioning, distress, dilator use, and vaginal symptoms after radiotherapy for gynaecological cancers.
Methods: Eligible women were randomised to the rehabilitation intervention or care-as-usual. Four intervention sessions were scheduled over 12 months, with concurrent validated questionnaires and clinical assessments.
Objective: The EMBRACE-vaginal morbidity substudy prospectively evaluated physician-assessed vaginal changes and patient-reported-outcomes (PRO) on vaginal and sexual functioning problems and distress in the first 2-years after image-guided radio(chemo)therapy and brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.
Methods: Eligible patients had stage IB1-IIIB cervical cancer with ≤5 mm vaginal involvement. Assessment of vaginal changes was graded using CTCAE.
Background: Sexual problems are frequently reported after treatment with radiotherapy (RT) for gynaecological cancer (GC), in particular after combined external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy (EBRT+BT). Studies demonstrate that psychosexual support should include cognitive behavioural interventions and involvement of the patient's partner, if available. Therefore, we developed a nurse-led sexual rehabilitation intervention, including these key components.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF