Development of Therapeutic Conversations With Females Diagnosed With Cancer and Their Partners

Erla Kolbrún Svavarsdóttir

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cancer

Treatments: Behavioral: Couple-based intervention and and evaluation of effectiveness in increasing adjustment of sexuality and intimacy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03936400

UIceland-22019JIJ

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main purpose of the doctoral study is to better understand the experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment in how it effects sexuality and intimacy of the female cancer patient and her partner.

Full description

With this increased understanding, an intervention, comprised of therapeutic interventions with the couple, will be conducted and assessed on how it affects the couple's general well-being and recovery of the sexual and intimate relationship.

The intervention consists of three therapeutic conversations, based on the Illness Beliefs model in family nursing, and an optional web-based evidence based information. The aim of the intervention is to support the facilitating beliefs of the couple in adapting to changes in intimacy and identify constraining beliefs. In the first session an emphasis is on creating an optimal context for changing beliefs by building good therapeutic relationship and to invite them to share their experience, giving them the opportunity to voice their own concerns and reflect on how their situation effects their intimate relationship. In the second session, the couple take a closer look at what they themselves deem important in adjusting to changes in their intimate relationship. In both sessions information about the possible sexual side effects of treatment will be offered as needed and evidence based, optional web-based information on practical solutions will be provided. In the booster-session, the couple will assess how they have been adjusting in their intimate relationship and any positive changes that have occurred will be accentuated.

Enrollment: 120 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• All females, 18 yrs and older, diagnosed with cancer (all types) and their partners
• Have began cancer treatment (surgical treatment, chemotherapy, radiation) - Are in a couple relationship
• Live in Iceland and are able to travel to site of intervention
• Speak and write Icelandic

Exclusion criteria

• Single females
• Do not read or write nor speak Icelandic

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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120 participants in 2 patient groups

Randomized controlled trial

Experimental group

Description:

Experimental group receiving a couple-based intervention

Treatment:

Behavioral: Couple-based intervention and and evaluation of effectiveness in increasing adjustment of sexuality and intimacy

Active comparator: control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

A control group that receives same but delayed couple-based intervention

Treatment:

Behavioral: Couple-based intervention and and evaluation of effectiveness in increasing adjustment of sexuality and intimacy