Implementation of individually tailored treatment plans in a group-based intervention for women with mixed vulvo-vaginal and sexual health concerns following cancer treatment: A feasibility study

Carly Sears; Pablo Santos-Iglesias; Roanne Millman; Natalie Jacox; Ericka Wiebe; Lauren M Walker

doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102236

Implementation of individually tailored treatment plans in a group-based intervention for women with mixed vulvo-vaginal and sexual health concerns following cancer treatment: A feasibility study

Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2023 Apr:63:102236. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102236. Epub 2022 Nov 12.

Authors

Carly Sears¹, Pablo Santos-Iglesias², Roanne Millman³, Natalie Jacox¹, Ericka Wiebe⁴, Lauren M Walker⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, 1331 - 29th St., NW, Calgary, AB, Canada.
² Department of Psychology, Cape Breton University, 1250 Grand Lake Rd, Sydney, NS, Canada.
³ Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, 1331 - 29th St., NW, Calgary, AB, Canada; West Coast Centre for Sex Therapy, 2695 Granville St., # 302, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁴ Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, 11560 University Ave., Edmonton, AB, Canada.
⁵ Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, 1331 - 29th St., NW, Calgary, AB, Canada; Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr., NW., Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: lmwalker@ucalgary.ca.

PMID: 36827834
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102236

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluated a professionally-led, group-based vulvo-vaginal and sexual health (VSH) workshop for women diagnosed with cancer. The study goals were to: (1) implement and assess a novel group intervention for diverse VSH concerns; (2) explore post-workshop changes in symptom bother, motivation to use VSH treatments, and frequency of VSH treatment use; (3) examine post-workshop changes in sexual well-being.

Methods: A group-based educational workshop to address a variety of VSH concerns was developed and implemented. During the workshop, participants created an individualized treatment plan by selecting from various VSH treatment options presented. Treatment plan follow-ups were administered online at one-, two-, and three-months post-workshop. At baseline and three-month follow-up, participants completed online questionnaires to assess self-reported vulvo-vaginal symptoms, sexual function, sexual distress, and use of VSH strategies.

Results: 195 participants (age 20-81) attended workshops over a 2.5-year period. Individualized treatment plans were effectively completed by most participants (92%). Preliminary results show decreases in bother severity associated with VSH concerns post-workshop, stabilizing after 2 months. At three-month follow-up, participants reported increased use of VSH treatment strategies. Sexual satisfaction, sexual distress, and emotional impact of vulvovaginal symptoms also improved.

Conclusions: Workshop attendance was associated with increased uptake of VSH treatment strategies and improvements in several parameters of sexual well-being. Findings indicate that individualized treatment plans can be implemented effectively in a group setting and that a one-time, group-based educational workshop can meaningfully impact VSH-related behavior change, reduce vulvo-vaginal symptom bother and promote sexual well-being in patients with diverse VSH concerns.

Keywords: Cancer; Sexual health; Sexual wellbeing; Vulvo-vaginal health; Women.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Neoplasms* / psychology
Sexual Behavior / psychology
Sexual Health*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult