A TEAM of researchers has created a new tool to assess the sexual health of female partners of patients with prostate cancer.1,2 The sexual concerns in partners of patients with prostate cancer (SCIPPP-F) questionnaire were validated with a diverse group of 200 female partners across the USA. The study highlighted that prostate cancer treatment significantly affects the sexual health and quality of life of these females.
Stacy Loeb, NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Perlmutter Cancer Center in New York, USA, emphasised that couples could benefit from referrals to sexual medicine specialists, sex therapy, support groups, or mental health services focused on loss, grief, and sexual rehabilitation.2
The team developed the 32-item questionnaire through a literature review, two previous studies, and a consensus panel of 11 experts. They conducted 90-minute interviews with 12 partners of patients with prostate cancer to refine the survey, resulting in a 27-item questionnaire. This was then validated among 200 female partners.
An exploratory factor analysis of 19 items revealed seven key themes: distress/satisfaction, loss of connection as a couple, active communication, discomfort with communication, frustration with sexual counselling, expansion of sexual repertoire, and nonpenetrative sexual activity.1
The communalities for these ranged from 0.61–0.83, and inter-item correlations from 0.05–0.80. It demonstrated strong internal consistency with an ordinal alpha of 0.94, and test-retest reliability of 0.89. Participants averaged 8.1 out of 9 on the Knowledge of Hereditary Prostate Cancer Scale, and scored an average of 4.4 on the Patient Health Questionnaire -9 depression questionnaire, higher than typical population samples.
The study found that loss of connection as a couple was the domain most correlated with depression, highlighting the need for additional mental health support focused on loss and grief for female partners. The average participant age was 61.7 years, with 83% from a White background and 16.5% Black and/or Latinx background. The average relationship duration was 25 years, and partners had lived with the diagnosis for an average of 5 years.
The researchers hope the tool will be used in both research and clinical practice to improve the sexual quality of life for female partners.2 Loeb emphasised the importance of addressing partners’ unmet needs. The team plans to investigate the impact of prostate cancer on the sexual lives of male and nonbinary partners next.
References
- Loeb S et al. Development and validation of a survey to assess sexual health in female partners of patients with prostate cancer. Eur Urol Oncol. 2024;17:S2588-9311(24)00113-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.euo.2024.04.022.
- NYU Langone Health. New tool flags hidden sexual struggles in female partners of patients with prostate cancer. Available at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-tool-flags-hidden-sexual-struggles-in-female-partners-of-patients-with-prostate-cancer-302150402.html. Last accessed: 29 May 2024.
