Эта страница была переведена автоматически, точность перевода не гарантируется. Пожалуйста, обратитесь к английской версии для исходного текста.

E-Mergir: A Digital Psychosexual Intervention for the Promotion of Mental and Sexual Health of Prostate Cancer Survivors (E-Mergir)

4 августа 2026 г. обновлено: Ana Luísa de Matos Dias Quinta Gomes, Universidade do Porto

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

Prostate cancer (PCa) survivors frequently experience enduring psychosexual challenges following treatment, including sexual dysfunction, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. Despite these difficulties, access to tailored support remains limited, highlighting the need for scalable and accessible alternatives such as digital interventions. This study presents the protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of E-Mergir, a digital psychosexual intervention developed for PCa survivors. Grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness strategies, the intervention aims to enhance both sexual and mental well-being. The trial employs a wait-list control design with randomized allocation. Participants will complete assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up, using validated measures related to sexual outcomes (sexual satisfaction, pleasure, function, distress, and beliefs) and mental health outcomes (quality of life, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, relationship satisfaction, and automatic thoughts). The study aims to determine whether E-Mergir is an effective digital intervention for improving psychosexual outcomes in PCa survivors, compared to a wait-list control group. It also aims to examine treatment predictors to illustrate the mechanisms through which improvements in mental and sexual health are achieved. If effective, E-Mergir could address a critical gap in supportive care for PCa survivors and serve as a model for culturally tailored digital psychosexual interventions globally.

Обзор исследования

Статус

Рекрутинг

Условия

Вмешательство/лечение

Подробное описание

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.

Тип исследования

Интервенционный

Регистрация (Оцененный)

106

Фаза

  • Непригодный

Контакты и местонахождение

В этом разделе приведены контактные данные лиц, проводящих исследование, и информация о том, где проводится это исследование.

Контакты исследования

  • Имя: Ana Luísa Quinta Gomes, PhD
  • Номер телефона: +351965816335
  • Электронная почта: bisagomes@gmail.com

Учебное резервное копирование контактов

Места учебы

      • Porto, Португалия
        • Рекрутинг
        • Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto
        • Контакт:

Критерии участия

Исследователи ищут людей, которые соответствуют определенному описанию, называемому критериям приемлемости. Некоторыми примерами этих критериев являются общее состояние здоровья человека или предшествующее лечение.

Критерии приемлемости

Возраст, подходящий для обучения

  • Взрослый
  • Пожилой взрослый

Принимает здоровых добровольцев

Нет

Описание

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.

Учебный план

В этом разделе представлена ​​подробная информация о плане исследования, в том числе о том, как планируется исследование и что оно измеряет.

Как устроено исследование?

Детали дизайна

  • Основная цель: Уход
  • Распределение: Рандомизированный
  • Интервенционная модель: Параллельное назначение
  • Маскировка: Нет (открытая этикетка)

Оружие и интервенции

Группа участников / Армия
Вмешательство/лечение
Экспериментальный: 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.
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.
Без вмешательства: 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.

Что измеряет исследование?

Первичные показатели результатов

Мера результата
Мера Описание
Временное ограничение
Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction
Временное ограничение: 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.
Questionnaire to assess sexual satisfaction
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.
Sexual Pleasure Scale
Временное ограничение: 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.
Questionnaire to assess sexual pleasure
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.
Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised
Временное ограничение: 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.
Questionnaire to assess sexual distress
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.
The World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief Version
Временное ограничение: 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.
Questionnaire to assess general quality of life
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.
The Brief Symptom Inventory
Временное ограничение: 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.
Questionnaire to assess psychological distress
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.
The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
Временное ограничение: 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.
Questionnaire to assess ability for mindfulness
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.

Вторичные показатели результатов

Мера результата
Мера Описание
Временное ограничение
International Index of Erectile Function
Временное ограничение: 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.
Questionnaire to assess erectile function
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.
Global Measure of Relational Satisfaction
Временное ограничение: 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.
Questionnaire to assess relational satisfaction
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.
The Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire
Временное ограничение: 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.
Questionnaire to assess sexual dysfunctional beliefs
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.
Sexual Modes Questionnaire
Временное ограничение: 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.
A subscale of this questionnaire will be used to assess automatic thoughts
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.
Posttraumatic Growth Inventory
Временное ограничение: 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.
As an exploratory outcome we will use this questionnaire to assess post-traumatic growth
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.

Соавторы и исследователи

Здесь вы найдете людей и организации, участвующие в этом исследовании.

Спонсор

Публикации и полезные ссылки

Лицо, ответственное за внесение сведений об исследовании, добровольно предоставляет эти публикации. Это может быть что угодно, связанное с исследованием.

Даты записи исследования

Эти даты отслеживают ход отправки отчетов об исследованиях и сводных результатов на сайт ClinicalTrials.gov. Записи исследований и сообщаемые результаты проверяются Национальной медицинской библиотекой (NLM), чтобы убедиться, что они соответствуют определенным стандартам контроля качества, прежде чем публиковать их на общедоступном веб-сайте.

Изучение основных дат

Начало исследования (Действительный)

1 июля 2026 г.

Первичное завершение (Оцененный)

1 января 2027 г.

Завершение исследования (Оцененный)

1 июля 2027 г.

Даты регистрации исследования

Первый отправленный

18 марта 2026 г.

Впервые представлено, что соответствует критериям контроля качества

4 августа 2026 г.

Первый опубликованный (Действительный)

10 августа 2026 г.

Обновления учебных записей

Последнее опубликованное обновление (Действительный)

10 августа 2026 г.

Последнее отправленное обновление, отвечающее критериям контроля качества

4 августа 2026 г.

Последняя проверка

1 июля 2026 г.

Дополнительная информация

Термины, связанные с этим исследованием

Планирование данных отдельных участников (IPD)

Планируете делиться данными об отдельных участниках (IPD)?

НЕТ

Информация о лекарствах и устройствах, исследовательские документы

Изучает лекарственный продукт, регулируемый FDA США.

Нет

Изучает продукт устройства, регулируемый Управлением по санитарному надзору за качеством пищевых продуктов и медикаментов США.

Нет

Эта информация была получена непосредственно с веб-сайта clinicaltrials.gov без каких-либо изменений. Если у вас есть запросы на изменение, удаление или обновление сведений об исследовании, обращайтесь по адресу register@clinicaltrials.gov. Как только изменение будет реализовано на clinicaltrials.gov, оно будет автоматически обновлено и на нашем веб-сайте. .

Подписаться