%0 Journal Article
%T Sexual satisfaction and its predictors in patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers in six European countries: Baseline data from the DIAdIC study.
%A Matthys O
%A Dierickx S
%A Van Goethem V
%A Deliens L
%A Lapeire L
%A De Pauw A
%A Hudson P
%A Vulsteke C
%A Geboes K
%A De Waele S
%A Spoormans I
%A Di Leo S
%A Guberti M
%A Schmidt US
%A Scott D
%A Harding R
%A Witkamp E
%A Connolly M
%A
%A De Vleminck A
%A Cohen J
%J Psychooncology
%V 33
%N 6
%D 2024 Jun
%M 38804579
%F 3.955
%R 10.1002/pon.6347
%X OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of sexual satisfaction in patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study using baseline survey data from a randomized controlled trial in six European countries. Patients with advanced cancer and their family caregiver completed measures on sexual satisfaction (one item from Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General questionnaire for patients and Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer scale for family caregivers) and health-related characteristics. Multivariable linear regressions were performed for all predictors (identified based on literature) with sexual satisfaction as dependent variable.
RESULTS: The sample comprised 431 patient-family caregiver dyads. Patients with prostate or gynecological cancer reported lower sexual satisfaction (respectively B = -0.267 95% CI: -1.674, -0.594 and B = -0.196, 95% CI -2.103, -0.452). Higher emotional (B = 0.278, 95% CI 0.024, 0.057) physical (B = 0.305, 95% CI 0.012, 0.025) and social functioning (B = 0.151, 95% CI 0.001, 0.013), global health (B = 0.356, 95% CI 0.007, 0.013) and social wellbeing (B = 0.161, 95% CI 0.013, 0.082) among patients were associated with higher sexual satisfaction. Among family caregivers, sexual satisfaction was lower with increased age (B = -0.142, 95% CI -0.022, -0.004). Higher emotional functioning (B = 0.027, 95% CI 0.011, 0.043) and quality of life (B = 0.165, 95% CI -0.165, 0.716) were associated with higher sexual satisfaction in family caregivers.
CONCLUSIONS: The results underscore that sexual wellbeing of patients and family caregivers is related to health related factors in physical, emotional, and social domains. Patients and family caregivers could benefit from a dyadic approach to address sexual wellbeing.