A randomised controlled trial of a couples-based sexuality intervention for men with localised prostate cancer who receive radical prostatectomy and their female partners — ASN Events
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A randomised controlled trial of a couples-based sexuality intervention for men with localised prostate cancer who receive radical prostatectomy and their female partners (#422)

Suzanne K. Chambers 1 2 3 4 5 , Stefano Occhipinti 6 , Leslie Schover 7 , Lisa Nielsen 2 , Leah Zajdlewicz 2 , Samantha Clutton 2 , Kim Halford 8 , Robert ('Frank') A. Gardiner 4 9 , Jeff Dunn 1 2 10 11
  1. Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  2. Cancer Council Queensland, Spring Hill, QLD, Australia
  3. Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  5. Health and Wellness Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
  6. School of Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  7. Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
  8. School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  9. Department of Urology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  10. School of Public Health, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  11. School of Social Science, University of Queenslane, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Background: The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer is followed by substantial sexual morbidity. However, the optimal approach for intervening remains unclear.

Methods/design: A three arm randomised control trial with 189 heterosexual couples in which the man had been previously diagnosed with prostate cancer compared the efficacy of peer-delivered telephone support vs. nurse-delivered telephone counselling vs. usual care in improving both men’s and women’s sexual and psychosocial adjustment. Assessments were undertaken at baseline (pre-test) and 3, 6, and 12 months after the initial assessment

Results:  At the 12 months post- assessment men in the nurse intervention more frequently used tablets for erectile dysfunction compared with men in the peer intervention (p = 0.049) or usual care (p = 0.001); and men in usual care used medical treatments for sexual problems less than men in the peer (p = 0.014) and nurse intervention (p = 0.006).  No significant effects were found for the other primary outcomes of sexual function, sexuality needs, sexual self-confidence, masculine self-esteem, marital satisfaction or intimacy for either male or female participants. For secondary outcomes, men in the peer intervention reported less improvement over time for cancer-specific distress, compared with men in usual care (b = 0.02, p = 0.032; d for peers = 0.23, d for usual care = 0.70); women in the nurse intervention reported less improvement over time for cancer-specific distress (b = .016, p = 0.022; d for nurse = 0.40, d for usual care = 0.68) compared to women in usual care. No differences in psychological distress or quality of life were observed. 

Conclusion: Although peer and nurse couples based interventions may increase use of sexual aids this may not translate into better sexual outcomes. Timing within the treatment trajectory may be crucial for sexuality intervention studies after prostate cancer treatment. 

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