Abstract
BackgroundDiagnosis and treatment of breast cancer potentially leads to sexual dysfunction and sexual distress in women and negatively affects their quality of life (QoL). This study aimed at determining the effect of PLISSIT based counseling on sexual function, sexual distress, and QoL in women surviving breast cancer.MethodsIn this pre-test, post-test, single-group semi-experimental study, 65 women surviving breast cancer who were referred to the selected centers were included in the study via the available sampling method. Data gathering tools included a researcher-made demographic questionnaire, female sexual function index, beck depression inventory-II, State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, World Health Organization QoL-Brief, and Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised. The counseling program (7 sessions 60 min each) was designed based on the PLISSIT model. The sexual function, sexual distress, and QoL were evaluated before, and 2 and 4 weeks after the intervention. To compare the mean scores of variables before and after the intervention, repeated-measured ANOVA was used.ResultsThe findings showed that PLISSIT based counseling significantly reduced sexual distress and increased the scores of QoL and all its domains, as well as sexual function and all its domains in women surviving breast cancer (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean scores of variables 2 and 4 weeks after the intervention.ConclusionsIt seems that PLISSIT based counseling reduces sexual dysfunction and sexual distress and improves the QoL of women surviving breast cancer. So, it is recommended that these counseling programs be integrated into the health care program of this group of women.Trial registrationTCTR202103170010, 17 March 2021, Retrospectively registered, at https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/.
Highlights
Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer potentially leads to sexual dysfunction and sexual distress in women and negatively affects their quality of life (QoL)
Breast cancer treatments may result in some sexual problems such as sexual dysfunction, sexual distress, and unsatisfactory body image due to the loss of a body part [12, 13]
The mean scores of total sexual function and QoL increased after the intervention
Summary
Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer potentially leads to sexual dysfunction and sexual distress in women and negatively affects their quality of life (QoL). This study aimed at determining the effect of PLISSIT based counseling on sexual function, sexual distress, and QoL in women surviving breast cancer. Keshavarz et al BMC Women’s Health (2021) 21:417 approximately 10,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Iran with a five-year overall survival rate of 72% [7]. Sexual dysfunction can negatively affect the QoL and interpersonal relationships [15, 16]. Improving sexual function in these patients can enhance medical practice, and can improve their well-being, QoL, and interpersonal relationships [17]
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