mLearning Intervention to Address Sexual Health Needs

Gynecologic cancers can have devastating effects on the sexual and relationship health of those who survive it. Over two-thirds of all individuals in survivorship from gynecologic cancer experience at least one sexual dysfunction. 

Sexual health has been clearly linked to physical and emotional well-being and overall quality of life; however, it is often missed or avoided as an important topic in gynecologic cancer care. Providers have often said there are barriers to initiate conversations and most believe this is necessary, however, it continues to be left out. In addition, gynecologic cancer patients say that they would like the providers to bring these topics up and open the discussion. 

This project aims to begin to fill the gap around provider-patient sexual health communication. First, we plan to interview healthcare providers who work in gynecologic oncology clinics. We want to understand what gets in the way and how providers would prefer to learn this vital sexual health knowledge. From here, we plan to use the results to create a sexual health website that is accessible from all devices so providers can complete interactive modules that will ideally increase their knowledge and comfort with sexual health topics relevant to gynecologic cancer. We then plan to test how easy the website is to use and how useful it is for providers. 

As part of the training plan, Dr. Abby Girard will attend various courses that are focused on learning how to design and implement these kinds of digital interventions and will learn how to conduct behavioral clinical trials so that she will be knowledgeable in testing the effectiveness of this intervention, and then translate it to patient care outcomes.