E-Mergir: A Digital Psychosexual Intervention for the Promotion of Mental and Sexual Health of Prostate Cancer Survivors (E-Mergir)
E-Mergir: a Randomized Controlled Trial to Test the Efficacy of a Digital Psychosexual Intervention for the Promotion of Mental and Sexual Health of Prostate Cancer Survivors
Panoramica dello studio
Stato
Stato
Condizioni
Condizioni
Intervento / Trattamento
Intervento / Trattamento
Descrizione dettagliata
This study was approved by the Ethical Board of Coimbra University Hospital. An online psychological intervention (e-Health app technology) specifically tailored to meet the needs of Portuguese men with prostate cancer was developed to promote participants' mental and sexual health. The intervention protocol was designed under Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) principles, featuring psychological and sexual health promotion strategies. The intervention program consists of 5 modules covering components of psychoeducation, sexual rehabilitation, mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and relapse prevention. The modules will be delivered online (using text, videos, and graphics) along with therapeutic guidance and support provided by a certified Clinical Psychologist over eight weeks.
Participants will be recruited through medical doctors at the Urology department of Coimbra University Hospital and invited telephonically to participate in the present study. If the potential participant declares interest, a researcher will contact them telephonically to confirm the following inclusion criteria: i) bein a prostate cancer survivor; ii) 18 years old or older; iii) have the ability to give informed consent; iv) own a smartphone and have internet access; v) no other oncological diagnoses over the past five years, vi)no severe neurological or psychological disorders.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: 1) e-Health psychological intervention (n=53); 2) waiting list group, (n= 53). Participants will be clinically assessed before and after the intervention on different psychosexual dimensions (e.g., mental health, quality of life, sexual dysfunction). The experimental group is expected to improve regarding mental and sexual well-being outcomes compared to the control group. Furthermore, the experimental group is expected to show the program's acceptability. This study aims to inform a future a randomized control trial that aims to further test the e-Health intervention's efficacy. Pre, mid-term, (at 4 weeks) post-test, three-month and six-month follow-up assessments will be performed for both groups.
Primary outcomes: psychological distress, sexual distress, sexual satisfaction, sexual pleasure, mindfulness, and quality of life.
Secondary outcomes: Sexual function, relational satisfaction, sexual dysfunctional beliefs, and automatic thoughts.
Exploratory outcomes: post-traumatic growth All scales are validated and adapted to the Portuguese population. Furthermore, a semi-structured interview will be conducted with experimental group participants by the end of the study to collect further insight on how possible mental and sexual improvements were achieved.
Participants' data will be stored in an encrypted file, saved on a computer, and only accessible to the main researchers of this study. Confidentiality will be guaranteed by assigning an individual code to each participant. This code will be used to log into the digital intervention and complete psychometric scales. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed. Transcriptions will be marked with the same code to ensure the association of the collected data.
Statistical procedures will be performed using IBM SPSS and include i) descriptive analyses; ii) MANOVA to measure differences among groups and to compare assessment moments; iii) Multiple Regression Analysis to examine treatment predictors; iv) Structural Equation Modeling to illustrate the mechanisms by which improvement of mental and sexual health was achieved.
Tipo di studio
Tipo di studio
Iscrizione (Stimato)
Iscrizione
Fase
Fase
- Non applicabile
Contatti e Sedi
Contatto studio
Contatto studio
- Nome: Ana Luísa Quinta Gomes, PhD
- Numero di telefono: +351965816335
- Email: bisagomes@gmail.com
Backup dei contatti dello studio
- Nome: Sonia Pieramico, MSc
- Email: soniapieramico@gmail.com
Luoghi di studio
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Porto, Portogallo
- Reclutamento
- Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto
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Contatto:
- Ana Gomes
- Email: bisagomes@gmail.com
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Criteri di partecipazione
Criteri di ammissibilità
Criteri di ammissibilità
Età idonea allo studio
- Adulto
- Adulto più anziano
Accetta volontari sani
Descrizione
Inclusion Criteria:
- Prostate cancer survivors,
- 18 years old or older,
- Ability to give informed consent,
- Regular use of a smartphone and internet access.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Other diagnosed oncological diseases over the past five years,
- Severe neurological impairment or other severe psychological/psychiatric diseases (depression, generalized anxiety disorder, psychosis-related disorders),
- Other uncontrolled/unstable diseases,
- Severe hearing and/or visual impairment,
- Under psychotherapy or treatment for sexual problems,
- Participating concurrently in other clinical trials.
Piano di studio
Come è strutturato lo studio?
Dettagli di progettazione
- Scopo principale: Trattamento
- Assegnazione: Randomizzato
- Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
- Mascheramento: Nessuno (etichetta aperta)
Numero di armi
Armi e interventi
Gruppo di partecipanti / ArmGruppo di partecipanti / Arm |
Intervento / TrattamentoIntervento / Trattamento |
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Sperimentale: Experimental: testing the digital intervention
Experimental: testing the digital intervention.
Prostate cancer survivors (n=53) randomly assigned to this arm will complete a digital psychosexual intervention and will be accompanied weekly by a certified clinical psychologist to monitor progress (synchronous or asynchronous).
Pre- midterm (4 weeks into intervention) and post testing involve questionnaires collecting data on psychosexual variables.
At post-testing a 30-minute interview will be conducted to collect information on how possible mental and sexual health improvements were achieved.
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e-Health intervention to promote mental and sexual health of prostate cancer survivors.
An online psychological intervention (e-Health app technology) specifically tailored to meet the needs of Portuguese men with prostate cancer was developed to promote participants' mental and sexual health.
The intervention protocol was designed under the principles of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), featuring psychological and sexual health promotion strategies.
The intervention program consists of 5 modules covering components of psychoeducation, sexual rehabilitation, mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and relapse prevention.
The modules will be delivered online (using text, videos, and graphics) along with therapeutic support provided by a certified Clinical Psychologist, over an eight-week period.
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Nessun intervento: Waiting list group: waiting to access the intervention after an eight-week waiting period.
Waiting list group: waiting to access the intervention after an eight-week waiting period.
Prostate cancer survivors (n=53) randomly assigned to this arm will not be accompanied or get access to the intervention during the eight week period in which the experimental group is completing the intervention.
Pre- midterm and post testing involve questionnaires collecting data on psychosexual variables.
After post testing the waiting-list arm will gain access to the intervention.
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Cosa sta misurando lo studio?
Misure di risultato primarie
Misure di risultato primarie
Misura del risultato |
Misura Descrizione |
Lasso di tempo |
|---|---|---|
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Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline sexual satisfaction over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Questionnaire to assess sexual satisfaction
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Change from baseline sexual satisfaction over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Sexual Pleasure Scale
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline sexual pleasure over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Questionnaire to assess sexual pleasure
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Change from baseline sexual pleasure over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Questionnaire to assess sexual distress
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Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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The World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief Version
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Questionnaire to assess general quality of life
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Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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The Brief Symptom Inventory
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Questionnaire to assess psychological distress
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Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Questionnaire to assess ability for mindfulness
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Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Misure di risultato secondarie
Misure di risultato secondarie
Misura del risultato |
Misura Descrizione |
Lasso di tempo |
|---|---|---|
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International Index of Erectile Function
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Questionnaire to assess erectile function
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Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Global Measure of Relational Satisfaction
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Questionnaire to assess relational satisfaction
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Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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The Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Questionnaire to assess sexual dysfunctional beliefs
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Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Sexual Modes Questionnaire
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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A subscale of this questionnaire will be used to assess automatic thoughts
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Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Posttraumatic Growth Inventory
Lasso di tempo: Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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As an exploratory outcome we will use this questionnaire to assess post-traumatic growth
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Change from baseline over midterm assessment at 4 weeks of intervention, at 8 weeks (post-test), and at 3 and 6 months after study completion.
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Collaboratori e investigatori
Sponsor
Sponsor
Pubblicazioni e link utili
Pubblicazioni generali
- Bossio JA, Miller F, O'Loughlin JI, Brotto LA. Sexual Health Recovery For Prostate Cancer Survivors: The Proposed Role Of Acceptance And Mindfulness-Based Interventions. Sex Med Rev. 2019 Oct;7(4):627-635. doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.03.001. Epub 2019 Apr 24.
- Pieramico, S., Rocha, H., & Quinta-Gomes, A. L. (2025). E-MERGIR: a QUALITATIVE STUDY ON ACCEPTABILITY AND USABILITY OF a DIGITAL PSYCHOSEXUAL INTERVENTION FOR PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVORS. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 22(Supplement_2). https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdaf077.132
- Siddons HM, Wootten AC, Costello AJ. A randomised, wait-list controlled trial: evaluation of a cognitive-behavioural group intervention on psycho-sexual adjustment for men with localised prostate cancer. Psychooncology. 2013 Oct;22(10):2186-92. doi: 10.1002/pon.3273. Epub 2013 Apr 10.
- Pieramico S, Castro R, Aguiar S, Bismarck F, Ferreira D, Carvalho J, Quinta Gomes AL, Nobre P. A systematic review on the efficacy of CBT interventions for the mental and sexual health of survivors of prostate cancer. Sex Med Rev. 2023 Dec 23;12(1):48-58. doi: 10.1093/sxmrev/qead024.
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Maggiori informazioni
Termini relativi a questo studio
Parole chiave
Termini MeSH pertinenti aggiuntivi
Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio
Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio
- 2023.05157.BD
- NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000057 (Altro numero di sovvenzione/finanziamento: Horizon 2020 - European Commission)
- UID/00050/2025 (Altro numero di sovvenzione/finanziamento: Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnolo[Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology])
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