Better online support for sexual problems after breast cancer
Optimizing psychosocial intervention for breast cancer-related sexual morbidity: A factorial trial using the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) network
This project tests which parts of an online program help partnered breast cancer survivors reduce sexual distress while keeping the program easy to use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11239818 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to join an online program if you're an intimately partnered woman who finished your main breast cancer treatment and are having sexual problems. The team will try different combinations of four automated components—education about sexual changes, training to talk with your clinician, training to talk with your partner, and activities to boost physical intimacy—using a factorial design to find the most helpful mix. About 320 women will be enrolled through community oncology sites in the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) network, and the program is designed to lower time burden and reduce drop-out. Researchers will also look at who benefits most, why each piece works, and how people engage with the online tools.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Intimately partnered women who have completed primary breast cancer treatment and report clinically significant sexual distress or dysfunction.
Not a fit: Unpartnered women, people still undergoing active cancer treatment, or those whose sexual issues are caused primarily by medical conditions rather than psychosocial factors may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a tested, lower-burden online treatment that improves sexual well-being and relationships for breast cancer survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Previous online and psychosocial interventions for cancer-related sexual problems have shown promise but often faced high refusal or drop-out, and using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy to find the best component mix is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaffer, Kelly Mclean — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Shaffer, Kelly Mclean
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.