Assessment of the Quality and Sexual Health Needs of Patients with Advanced-stage Cancer (INTIMI-K)

Sexual health is an important determinant of the overall health of a population, as addressed in the French National Strategy 2017-2030. For a long time neglected in oncology, sexual health is now part of clinical assessments in cancer support care and is fully integrated into practice recommendations. However, existing evidences, though limited, are still suggesting unmet needs during the palliative phase of the disease.

Current literature focuses on the assessment and management of potential issues related to genital cancers - primarily gynecological, breast, and prostate cancers - but also on post-cancer experiences. The sexual health needs of patients in palliative care are understudied, except one study that reports how patients are considering sexuality as an important aspect of their lives, even during the last weeks to days of life.

In the aim of developing an efficient complex intervention for the population of patients with cancer in palliative situations, it is necessary to identify the needs, facilitators, and modalities required for promoting sexual health in this population (beyond the extensively studied cases of genital cancers). A solely patient-centred approach would be limiting, and this objective requires an approach dedicated to the life partners as well.

To assess satisfaction related to sexual health and gain insights regarding the expectations of patients and their partners towards the healthcare system, the study INTIMI-K will utilize a mixed methodology involving the use of a questionnaire, including validated scales, and semi-structured interviews. Patients aged 18 and older, diagnosed with advanced solid or hematological cancers, along with their life partner will be included.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Advanced Cancer; Sexual Satisfaction
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Sexual satisfaction questionnaire for patients; Other: Sexual satisfaction questionnaire for patients' life partner

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 120

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Roxane MD DONZ; Phone Number: +33 4 78 86 41 48; Email: roxane.donz@chu-lyon.fr
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Anne-Sophie BELMONT; Phone Number: +33 4 78 86 41 95; Email: anne-sophie.belmont@chu-lyon.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Lyon, France
    • Recruiting
    • Centre hospitalier de la Croix Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon
    • Contact: Roxane MD DONZ
  • Lyon, France
    • Recruiting
    • Centre Hospitalier Edouard Herriot, Hospices Civils de Lyon
    • Contact: Sophie MD FRANCIONI
  • Lyon, France
    • Recruiting
    • Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon
    • Contact: Roxane MD DONZ

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients diagnosed with advanced solid or hematological cancers, whether or not undergoing specific treatment for the ongoing oncological condition and having a cancer diagnosis for more than 3 months (baseline diagnosis consultation) and their partner of life.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

For patients:

• Individuals aged 18 and older,
• Patients diagnosed with advanced solid or hematological cancers,
• Whether or not undergoing specific treatment for the ongoing oncological condition,
• Having a cancer diagnosis for more than 3 months (baseline diagnosis consultation),
• Capable of understanding study-related documents,
• Capable of completing questionnaires,
• Fluent in French,
• Individuals who have not objected to participating in the study.

For partners:

• Individuals aged 18 and older,
• Individuals whose life partner has been diagnosed with advanced solid or hematological cancer for more than 3 months, whether or not they have received treatment,
• Capable of understanding study-related documents,
• Capable of completing questionnaires,
• Fluent in French,
• Individuals who have not objected to participating in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals unable to complete the entire questionnaire due to their clinical condition.
• Individuals under guardians, curators, or legal protection.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Patients' group; Patients diagnosed with advanced solid or hematological cancers, whether or not undergoing specific treatment for the ongoing oncological condition and having a cancer diagnosis for more than 3 months (baseline diagnosis consultation).	Other: Sexual satisfaction questionnaire for patients; Completion by patients of a 28-item ad-hoc questionnaire evaluating their sexual satisfaction, alone or with the help of one of the researchers. Each item is rated using a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5. The maximum score is 140, the minimum score is 28. A low score reflects a good level of sexual satisfaction. Participants who have agreed to take part in the qualitative part of the study will be contacted within a few days of inclusion to arrange an appointment for a semi-structured individual interview.
Partners' of life group; Partners' of life group of patients' diagnosed with advanced solid or hematological cancers, whether or not undergoing specific treatment for the ongoing oncological condition and having a cancer diagnosis for more than 3 months (baseline diagnosis consultation).	Other: Sexual satisfaction questionnaire for patients' life partner; Completion by the patients' life partner of a 30-item ad-hoc questionnaire evaluating their sexual satisfaction, alone or with the help of one of the researchers. Each item is rated using a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5. The maximum score is 140, the minimum score is 28. A low score reflects a good level of sexual satisfaction. Participants who have agreed to take part in the qualitative part of the study will be contacted within a few days of inclusion to arrange an appointment for a semi-structured individual interview.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sexual Health satisfaction assessment	Average scores for the various questions from the different developed ad-hoc questionnaire to assess satisfaction related to sexual health	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hospices Civils de Lyon

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 5, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 19, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 19, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): January 29, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 7, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 5, 2024
• Last Verified: November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: sexual health; palliative cancer patients; identification of needs
• Other Study ID Numbers: 69HCL23_0695

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No