P. Röscher1, K. Naidoo1, R. Sathiram1, J. Milios2, J. van Wyk1
1University of KwaZulu Natal, School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa, 2University of Western Australia, School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, Perth, Australia
Background: Prostate cancer treatments may include surgical and non surgical interventions. Common side effects of these procedures include urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Of the sexual dysfunction side effects, a group of lesser know sexual side effects exists, referred to as the neglected sexual side effects (NSSE).These include i) urinary incontinence during sexual activity, ii) climacturia, iii) orgasmic intensity changes , iv) orgasmic Pain , v) anejaculation , vi) penile sensation changes , vii) penile length shortening and lastly viii) Peyronie-like disease. There is currently no valid and reliable questionnaire available to pick up the NSSE after early prostate cancer treatment. These NSSE are debilitating, and often neglected due to their taboo nature in the medical field.
Purpose: To create and validate a NSSE after prostate cancer questionaire using a modified E-Delphi study.
Methods: A group of 35 expert pannelist were invited to participate in a 3 round modified E-Delphi study over a period of a 3 month period. The pannelists consisted of Urologists, Oncologists, Sexologists, Psycho-Sexologists, Psychologists and Pelvic Physiotherapists. The panellists were asked to participate in each of the 3 rounds of the E-Delphi study, where they were asked to assess a specific item relating to the NSSE by rating it on a 5 point likert Scale.
Consensus was defined as a 75% aggreement of the "extremely appropriate" option, or the majority decision after round 3. Comments during each round were recorded, and then implemented in the subsequent rounds.
Consensus was defined as a 75% aggreement of the "extremely appropriate" option, or the majority decision after round 3. Comments during each round were recorded, and then implemented in the subsequent rounds.
Results: Of the 35 invited experts, 27 completed the first round, 23 completed the second round and 19 completed the third and final round. Round 1 started with 10 items in the draft questionnaire,and the result after round 3 was that 8 Items received approval to be included in the final questionnaire. Three of the items achieved consensus after round 2, and 2 items were removed after round 2. After 3 rounds, the majority of the items achieved the required 75% consensus set out originally. The items were refined over the 3 round process, and made as appropriate as possible to be used in a multi-disciplinary setting for health care professionals involved in prostate cancer care.
Conclusion(s): A multi-disciplinary team of health care professionals involved in prostate cancer care were able to give their valuable professional input on an important study that will have an impact on patients presenting with NSSE after prostate cancer. The result of this modified E-Delphi study is a valid NSSE after prostate cancer questionnaire.
Implications: This study is part of a larger goal to create a valid and reliable NSSE after prostate cancer questionaire. The next phase is to test the reliability of this questionnaire on a patient population.
Funding, acknowledgements: NONE
Keywords: Neglected Sexual Side Effects, Prostate Cancer Treatment
Topic: Pelvic, sexual and reproductive health
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of KwaZulu Natal
Committee: School of Health Sciences Research Committee (Biomedical Research Ethics Committee)
Ethics number: BREC/00000478/2019
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
