Optimizing Psychosocial Intervention for Breast Cancer-Related Sexual Morbidity:The Sexual Health and Intimacy Education (SHINE) Trial (WF-2202)

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop an effective internet-delivered program to help breast cancer survivors manage cancer-related sexual concerns.

This study is being done to find out if the study approach is better or worse than the usual approach to helping breast cancer survivors manage cancer-related sexual concerns. The usual approach is defined as care most cancer survivors get for their cancer-related sexual concerns.

Participants will complete a questionnaire and if they qualify, they will be assigned to one of sixteen groups of participants. Groups will get access to various kinds of help through an Internet-delivered program called SHINE, which was designed and is run by researchers at the University of Virginia Center for Behavioral Health and Technology. All groups will get access to education about sexual health after cancer: either a standard education website or an enhanced education web program. Groups may also receive up to three additional web programs on: talking to your clinicians about sexual concerns, and/or talking to your partner about sexual concerns, and/or increasing intimacy. Participants are asked to complete the SHINE program within 12 weeks.

After participants finish this 12-week period, the study team will ask them to complete a questionnaire to check in with the participant. The participant will be asked one additional time 12 weeks later to complete another questionnaire to see how the participant is doing. A participant will be in the study for 24 weeks.

  • History of Stage 0-III breast cancer diagnosis. History of non-breast malignancies are permitted.
  • ≥12 weeks following last primary cancer treatment. For this protocol, primary cancer treatments are defined as chemotherapy, cytotoxic antibody-drug conjugates, checkpoint inhibitors, radiation, and surgical procedures intended to remove malignant tissue. Ongoing adjuvant endocrine therapy (e.g., tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors), adjuvant cdk 4/6-inhibitors (e.g., abemaciclib), HER2-based Monoclonal antibody therapy (e.g., trastuzumab, pertuzumab), HER2 targeted Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors (e.g., neratinib), and/or pending breast reconstructive surgery are allowed. (There is no upper limit on time since treatment.)
  • Age ≥ 18 years at the time of study enrollment
  • SELF-REPORTED ELIGIBILITY SCREENER INCLUSION
  • Cisgender female (i.e., assigned female at birth, female gender identity)
  • Currently in an intimate relationship, as reported on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sexual Function and Satisfaction (PROMIS SexFS) screener (this relationship may be with an individual of any sex and gender identity)
  • Endorse being at least “somewhat” bothered by >=1 of the following during the last 30 days: (lack of) interest in sexual activity, vaginal dryness, pain during sexual activity, or (in)ability to orgasm, as reported on the PROMIS SexFS Bother Regarding Sexual Function screener
  • Endorse that ≥ 1 of the bothersome sexual symptoms, from the PROMIS SexFS Bother Regarding Sexual Function screener is related to their breast cancer
  • Has a working email address (or willing to create one) and receive emails from the study

  • Planned cancer treatment for residual, progressive, or recurrent disease within the 24 weeks following enrollment (defined as chemotherapy, cytotoxic antibody-drug conjugates, checkpoint inhibitors, radiation, and/or surgical procedures intended to remove malignant tissue). Ongoing adjuvant endocrine therapy (e.g., tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors), adjuvant cdk 4/6-inhibitors (e.g., abemaciclib), HER2-based Monoclonal antibody therapy (e.g., trastuzumab, pertuzumab), HER2 targeted Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors (e.g., neratinib), and/or pending breast reconstructive surgery are allowed.
  • Unable to read and comprehend English (SHINE intervention currently only available in English) as indicated by being unable to complete the self-reported screening questionnaire independently
  • SELF-REPORTED ELIGIBILITY SCREENER EXCLUSION
  • Does not have reliable access to internet (e.g., by home broadband, public network, personal data plan) by computer, tablet, smartphone etc. and is not willing to participate in the tablet lending program for this study
  • Recent serious mental illness, as defined by reporting an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization within the past 12 months
  • Currently participating in couple, marital, or sex therapy
  • Currently pregnant (Pregnant women are excluded from this study because childbirth is accompanied by significant biological, psychological, and environmental changes that alter a woman’s sexual functioning. Intervention content may not be medically appropriate for women who have recently given birth, given that medical providers commonly recommend that women avoid sexual contact for at least four to six weeks post-partum while healing.)

Sponsor(s)

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Learn More

To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.Gov

Locations

Gibbs Cancer Center
2759 Hwy 14 South
Greer, SC 29650


AnMed Cancer Center
2000 E. Greenville St.
Suite 5130
Anderson, SC 29621