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

Status:	Active, not recruiting
Conditions:	Ovarian Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Cancer, Psychiatric, Women's Studies
Therapuetic Areas:	Oncology, Psychiatry / Psychology, Reproductive
Healthy:	No
Age Range:	18 - Any
Updated:	4/17/2018
Start Date:	July 2012
End Date:	September 2019

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.

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

We found this trial at

sites

Tom Baker Cancer Centre

Calgary, Alberta

Principal Investigator: John W. Robinson, PhD

from

Calgary,