title: The association between psychosocial and medical factors with long-term sexual dysfunction after treatment for colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colorectal cancer patients usually receive treatments (e.g., pelvic surgery or radiotherapy, colostomy) that increase their risk for sexual problems. Previous research has mainly focused on demographic and medical risk factors. Because little is known about the role of psychosocial variables in sexual dysfunction, this research sought to identify the contribution of demographic, medical, and psychosocial factors to sexual dysfunction using multivariate analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male and female colorectal cancer survivors (N = 261; mean, 2.5 years post-treatment) completed paper-pencil questionnaires assessing sexual function, psychosocial variables (e.g., depression, social support, body image, and dyadic adjustment), and demographics. Medical information was obtained from patients' self-report and medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple regression analyses revealed that older age, having received destructive surgery (i.e., abdominoperineal resection), and poor social support were uniquely and significantly associated with low international index of erectile function scores in men. For women, low female sexual function index scores were significantly associated with older age and poor global quality of life. Men, but not women, with rectal cancer reported worse sexual function compared to those with colon cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual dysfunction after colorectal cancer treatment is related to demographic, medical, and psychosocial factors. These associations can help to identify patients at high risk of sexual problems in order to assist restoring sexual functioning if desired.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. kmilbury@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Milbury
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Rosell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Skibber
authors.forename: Leslie R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Schover
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors