Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39546932›Full record

Trial reportGynecologic oncology2025

A randomized controlled trial of an online support group addressing psychosexual distress among women treated for gynecologic cancer.

Catherine C Classen, Meredith L Chivers, Lori A Brotto, Lisa Barbera, Jeanne Carter, John Koval, John W Robinson, Sarah E Ferguson

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Gynecologic oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Catherine C ClassenDepartment of Psychiatry, Temerty School of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Meredith L ChiversDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Lori A BrottoDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Lisa BarberaDepartment of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jeanne CarterDepartment of Surgery, Gynecology Service and Department of Psychiatry, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York, USA.
John KovalDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
John W RobinsonDepartment of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Sarah E FergusonDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Temerty School of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Gynecologic Oncology Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network/Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: Sarah.Ferguson@uhn.ca.

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI SELWYN M VICKERS · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo assess whether a 12-week, professionally facilitated, asynchronous online support group would reduce sexual distress (primary outcome) and improve sexual function, body image, depression symptoms, relationship satisfaction, and social support (secondary outcomes) in women treated for gynecologic cancer.

methodsParticipants were 398 women recruited from three Canadian provinces and one American cancer center in cohorts of 40. Participants were randomized (50:50 odds) to either the immediate treatment condition (ITC) or the waitlist control condition (WCC). Eligibility included: completed treatment for gynecologic cancer, disease-free for at least 3 months, no more than 5 years post-diagnosis, met criteria for psychosexual distress, willing to discuss sexual concerns, 18 years or older, English speaking, and access to a computer. Participants in the ITC received a 12-week online group along with psychoeducational material each week to stimulate discussion. Two 90-min synchronous sessions were offered in weeks 4 and 8.

resultsReductions in sexual distress for ITC were not significantly different compared to WCC. Similarly, no treatment effects were observed for body image, depression, relationship satisfaction, or social support. ITC showed statistically significant improvements in sexual functioning compared to WCC, but these gains were not retained at 4-month follow-up.

conclusionTreatment effects were modest, although in the expected direction. As this study was underpowered, it offers preliminary evidence that an asynchronous, online psychoeducational support group may confer positive benefits for women's sexual functioning. The efficiency, convenience, and accessibility of online interventions has significant potential to close gaps in women's access to evidence-based sexual health care.

Indexed as

Genital Neoplasms, FemaleSelf-Help GroupsSexual Dysfunctions, PsychologicalAdultAgedBody ImageFemaleHumansInternet-Based InterventionMiddle AgedPsychological DistressSocial SupportGynecologic cancerPsychosexual distressSexual health

Identifiers

PMID39546932
PMCPMC12324713

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.