title: Facilitating psychosexual adjustment for women undergoing pelvic radiotherapy: pilot of a novel patient psycho-educational resource.
abstract: This pilot study aimed to obtain feedback on the feasibility, safety and acceptability of a psychosexual rehabilitation booklet developed for women undergoing pelvic radiation therapy (PRT) and to explore women's sexual, informational and supportive care needs post-PRT rehabilitation.
  
  
  
  Twenty women treated with PRT for gynaecological or anorectal cancer within the last 5 years, who had received vaginal dilators, provided feedback on the format, content and utility of the booklet and discussed their post-treatment information needs, via a semi-structured phone interview. Women completed standardized (HADS, IES-R) and study-specific scales to characterize psychological status of the sample and to assess participants' booklet knowledge and feedback, respectively.
  
  
  
  The booklet was perceived as very helpful, informative and not distressing, providing additional information to that discussed with clinicians. After reading the booklet, women had good understanding of strategies to reduce the sexual impact of PRT. Many women reported that discussion of sexuality was often avoided during consultations, despite them experiencing distressing sexual experiences and difficulties post-PRT.
  
  
  
  This novel resource which addresses an important component of post-pelvic radiation care appears acceptable and highly valued. Findings have highlighted a need for sexual health communication training for clinicians who treat this population so that they can initiate conversations about vaginal health and sexual health in an informed and comfortable manner. The impact of the revised booklet on psychosexual and clinical outcomes is being evaluated in a multicentre RCT.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Franchelle
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lubotzky
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butow
authors.affiliation: Sydney Cancer Centre, Gynaecologic Oncology Group, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nattress
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Comensoli
authors.affiliation: Sydney Cancer Centre, Gynaecologic Oncology Group, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Philp
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Juraskova
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010174:Pamphlets; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: anorectal cancer; booklet; dilators; gynaecological cancer; qualitative study; radiotherapy; sexual adjustment