Research Purpose:
Developed for women who have been treated for breast or gynecological cancer and their partners, the PEPP study will test the efficacy of a self-administered, workbook-based intervention designed to improve intimacy after cancer treatment.
Importance:
Difficulty with sexual function is a leading long-term side effect reported by survivors of breast and gynecological cancers. Partners of women who have been treated for cancer can experience distress, worry, or negative effects of their own sexual functioning. Research has shown that interventions can help couples adjust to changes in sexual function and reconnect after cancer.
Time Commitment:
- 1 virtual consent and baseline visit (1 hour)
- 1 virtual education visit (15 min)
- Weekly interaction with PEPP workbook (1.5 hours each week for 6 weeks)
- Bi-weekly text/email alerts requiring responses (10 min each)
- Week 6 questionnaires (15 min)
Compensation: Participants will be compensated for their participation in this research study and may receive a total of up to $50 per person in the form of gift cards. Compensation will be prorated at $25 for completion of baseline surveys and $25 for completion of week 6 surveys.
Eligibility:
To participate, you must…
- Be ≥ 18 years old and female.
- Be able to read and white in English.
- Have a history of any stage of breast and/or gynecological cancer. (Documentation required).
- Completed primary treatment (chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery) ≥ 3 months and ≤ 5 years prior to registration.
- Have a stable partner, defined as anyone with whom the woman has had an intimate relationship for at least 3 months prior to her cancer diagnosis.
- Respond yes to the question “Has there been a change in communication and/or intimacy with your partner since your cancer diagnosis?”
- NOT Past history of sexual abuse.
- NOT have an uncontrolled psychiatric disorder such as major depressive disorder; bipolar disorder; obsessive compulsive disorder; or schizophrenia.
- NOT be enrolled in another study that addresses sexual health.
To see if you are eligible for the PEPP research study, please select the “Proceed to Survey” button below. This link will redirect you outside of the CASSI website to a REDCap survey.
Have questions first? You can reach our study coordinator, Carrie Lafferty at cassi@utk.edu.
More studies will be added as they become available.