title: A brief intervention to minimize psychosexual morbidity in dyads coping with breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and evaluate the feasibility of a brief intervention to attenuate the incidence of psychosexual morbidity within the dyad secondary to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasiexperimental, including intervention and treatment-as-usual comparison groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breast clinic of a comprehensive cancer center in the Midwest United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  65 recently diagnosed breast cancer survivors who were pre- or perimenopausal and aged 20-55 years, and their partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three intervention sessions were delivered based on a manual developed for the study. Twenty-five dyads received treatment as usual, 26 dyads received a face-to-face intervention, and 14 dyads received the same intervention by telephone. Questionnaires were completed at baseline, following completion of the intervention, six months postintervention, and from the comparison group at equivalent data points.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intimacy, sexual functioning, and dyadic adjustment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 98% of dyads completed all intervention sessions, with an equal level of satisfaction among those in the telephone and face-to-face groups. Interesting trends in differences between the intervention and comparison groups on the relationship variables of intimacy, sexual functioning, and dyadic adjustment were obtained; however, given the sample size, power was not sufficient to reach statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention is feasible and acceptable for dyads comfortable discussing their relationship. Intervention by telephone was demonstrated to be as effective as the face-to-face mode of delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses need to provide an opportunity for women to discuss problems they are experiencing relative to sexuality, intimacy, and body image.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Indiana University in Indianapolis, USA.
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Shobha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pais
authors.forename: Kathy D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goulet
authors.forename: Betsy L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Fifea
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult