Trial reportPsycho-oncology2014
A randomized pilot trial of a telephone-based couples intervention for physical intimacy and sexual concerns in colorectal cancer.
Trial report in Psycho-oncology, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 45 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
45 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 79 citations in OpenAlex.
- Feasibility and effectiveness of communication tools for addressing intimacy and sexuality in patients with cancer: a systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024Pooled it
- Dimensions of couples' sexual communication, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction: A meta-analysis.Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43) · 2022Pooled it
- The Challenges of Enrollment and Retention: A Systematic Review of Psychosocial Behavioral Interventions for Patients With Cancer and Their Family Caregivers.Journal of pain and symptom management · 2021Pooled it
- Telephone interventions for symptom management in adults with cancer.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Pooled it
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of couple-based intervention on sexuality and the quality of life of cancer patients and their partners.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2020Pooled it
- Couples' Sexual Communication and Dimensions of Sexual Function: A Meta-Analysis.Journal of sex research · 2019Pooled it
- Feasibility, useability and acceptability of technology-based interventions for informal cancer carers: a systematic review.BMC cancer · 2018Pooled it
- A systematic review of psychosocial interventions for colorectal cancer patients.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2017Pooled it
- Interventions for sexual dysfunction following treatments for cancer in women.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- Trial
- Trial
- Parenting a child with cancer: a couple-based approach.Translational behavioral medicine · 2019Trial
- A randomized pilot trial of a videoconference couples communication intervention for advanced GI cancer.Psycho-oncology · 2017Trial
- A randomized clinical trial of a supportive versus a skill-based couple-focused group intervention for breast cancer patients.Journal of consulting and clinical psychology · 2016Trial
- A randomized trial of a minimal intervention for sexual concerns after cancer: a comparison of self-help and professionally delivered modalities.BMC cancer · 2015Trial
- A randomized pilot trial of a couple-based intervention addressing sexual concerns for breast cancer survivors.Journal of psychosocial oncologyTrial
- Incongruent symptom perceptions and its associations with negative mood, intimate relationship and quality of life in colorectal cancer dyads: a dyadic analysis.Journal of patient-reported outcomes · 2026Article
- The impact of advanced cancer on sexual health and relationships: A qualitative study on patient and partner perspectives.Palliative medicine · 2026Article
- Impact of telemonitoring systems in cancer care: a systematic review.BMJ connections surgery · 2026Review
- Fertility and sexuality in early-onset colorectal cancer patients: a monocentric survey.ESMO gastrointestinal oncology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 7 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundWe previously developed and piloted a telephone-based intimacy enhancement (IE) intervention addressing sexual concerns of colorectal cancer patients and their partners in an uncontrolled study. The current study tested the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the IE intervention in a randomized, controlled trial.
methodsTwenty-three couples were randomized to either the four-session IE condition or to a wait list control condition and completed sexual and relationship outcomes measures. The IE intervention teaches skills for coping with sexual concerns and improving intimacy. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through enrollment and post-treatment program evaluations, respectively. Effect sizes were calculated by comparing differences in average pre/post change scores across completers in the two groups (n = 18 couples).
resultsRecruitment and attrition data supported feasibility. Program evaluations for process (e.g., ease of participation) and content (e.g., relevance) demonstrated acceptability. Engaging in intimacy-building activities and communication were the skills rated as most commonly practiced and most helpful. For patients, positive effects of the IE intervention were found for female and male sexual function, medical impact on sexual function, and self-efficacy for enjoying intimacy (≥.58); no effects were found on sexual distress or intimacy and small negative effects for sexual communication, and two self-efficacy items. For partners, positive IE effects were found for all outcomes; the largest were for sexual distress (.69), male sexual function (1.76), communication (.97), and two self-efficacy items (≥.87).
conclusionsThe telephone-based IE intervention shows promise for couples facing colorectal cancer. Larger multi-site intervention studies are necessary to replicate findings.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.