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A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Support Group for Sexual Distress Due to Gynecologic Cancer

This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified July 2012 by Women's College Hospital
Sponsor:
Collaborators:
University Health Network, Toronto
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Women's College Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01654458
First received: July 27, 2012
Last updated: October 25, 2012
Last verified: July 2012
History of Changes
  Purpose

There is a high prevalence of sexual and body image problems among women treated for gynecologic cancer, which can lead to considerable distress. Given the sensitive and highly personal nature of these problems, women are often reluctant to speak to their doctors about these concerns and have few resources for support and information. The research team will conduct a prospective randomized controlled trail (RCT) to test the benefits of "GyneGals," a 12-week online (i.e. Internet-based) support group intervention for women who are sexually distressed due to gynecologic cancer and its treatment.

The primary aim of this study is to determine whether a professionally-facilitated, information-rich, online support group is beneficial for women who are sexually distressed due to gynecologic cancer and the side effects of treatment.


Condition Intervention
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Ovarian Neoplasms
Uterine Neoplasms
Genital Neoplasms, Female
 Behavioral: GyneGals Support Group

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Official Title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Support Group for Sexual Distress Due to Gynecologic Cancer

Resource links provided by NLM:

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by Women's College Hospital:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Psychosexual distress, as measured by the Revised Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS-R). [ Time Frame: 9 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Sexual function, as measured by the Sexual Function Questionnaire (SFQ). [ Time Frame: 9 months (at months 1, 5, and 9) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Body image, as measured by the Sexual Adjustment and Body Image Scale - Gynecologic Cancer (SABIS-G). [ Time Frame: 9 months (at months 1, 5, and 9) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Depression and anxiety symptoms, as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). [ Time Frame: 9 months (at months 1, 5, and 9) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Relationship satisfaction, as measured by the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS). [ Time Frame: 9 months (at months 1, 5, and 9) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Perceived social support, as measured by MOS Social Support Survey (MOS-SS). [ Time Frame: 9 months (at months 1, 5, and 9) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment: 40
Study Start Date: July 2012
Arms Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Immediate Treatment Condition
Receives the 12-week GyneGals Support Group within a month of completing the baseline assessment.
 Behavioral: GyneGals Support Group
12-week online (i.e. Internet-based), professionally-facilitated support group
No Intervention: Waitlist Control Condition
Waitlist control group receives the 12-week GyneGals Support Group only after its involvement in the study has ended, as a courtesy.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Received surgical, radiation or chemotherapy treatments for any gynecologic cancer
  • Not receiving active treatment
  • Currently disease-free for a minimum of 3 months
  • No more than 5 years post-diagnosis
  • Distressed due to psychosexual concerns related to cancer
  • Willing to discuss psychosexual concerns
  • 18 years or older
  • Has access to a computer and the Internet
  • Speaks, reads, and writes in English
  • Provides informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acutely suicidal (i.e., actively suicidal within the previous 3 months)
  • Has a major psychiatric illness
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01654458

Contacts
Contact: Catherine C. Classen, PhD 416-323-6041 catherine.classen@wchospital.ca

Locations
Canada, Ontario
Women's College Hospital Recruiting
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1B2
University Health Network (Princess Margaret Hospital) Not yet recruiting
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2M9
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Not yet recruiting
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4N 3M5
Sponsors and Collaborators
Women's College Hospital
University Health Network, Toronto
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Catherine C. Classen, PhD Women's College Hospital
  More Information

Publications:

Responsible Party: Women's College Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01654458     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: OVA-120243, 1009695, 12-0427-CE, 216-2012
Study First Received: July 27, 2012
Last Updated: October 25, 2012
Health Authority: Canada: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Keywords provided by Women's College Hospital:
Uterine Neoplasms
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
Psychotherapy, Group
Genital Neoplasms, Female
Endometrial Neoplasms
Fallopian Tube Neoplasms
 Ovarian Neoplasms
Urogenital Neoplasms
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Vaginal Neoplasms
Vulvar Neoplasms

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Uterine Neoplasms
Neoplasms
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Genital Neoplasms, Female
Ovarian Neoplasms
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
Urogenital Neoplasms
Neoplasms by Site
Uterine Cervical Diseases
 Uterine Diseases
Genital Diseases, Female
Endocrine Gland Neoplasms
Ovarian Diseases
Adnexal Diseases
Endocrine System Diseases
Gonadal Disorders
Sexual and Gender Disorders
Mental Disorders

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 16, 2013