Table 2.
Outcomes regarding feasibility of tools supporting communication about intimacy and sexuality
| First author, year | Tool (model, programme, intervention, components, duration) | Willingness to participate, including eligible and participating participants | Lost to follow-up, including compliance with programme | Usability | MMAT1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akeflo, 2022 [38] |
PLISSIT2 Nurse-led intervention with visits and/or phone calls or digital meetings, applied 3 months to several years (individualized care) |
975 eligible participants of which 605 took part in baseline questionnaire (62.1%) 605 participants were included of which 379 (62.6%) approved to take part in the intervention |
605 participant took part in baseline questionnaire of which 226 (37.4%) were lost to follow-up before the intervention 379 participants took part in the intervention of which 119 (31.4%) were lost to follow-up In total 345 out of 605 participants (57.0%) were lost to follow up |
88.6% of the participants reported that they were moderately to very satisfied with the help offered regarding sexual health issues | * |
| De Almeida, 2020 [39] |
PLISSIT counselling, five weekly sessions of 1.5 h each Control group received one lecture (2 h) |
40 eligible patients of which 23 agreed to participate (57.5%) | 23 patients included in study of which 5 were lost to follow-up, all from intervention group (21.7%) | *** | |
| Bingham, 2022 [40] | Engagement, Assessment, Support and Signposting (EASSi) framework, one-time training (eLearning), duration approximately 1 h |
157 participants included in study of which 68 were lost to follow-up (43.3%, calculated upon post-test survey participation) 89 participants completed the study of which 2 did not fully comply with the intervention (2.4%) |
Intervention considered easy to use by HCPs3 | ** | |
| Bokaie, 2022 [41] | Problem-solving approach (sessions), counselling, eight weekly sessions, 90 min per session |
100% participation rate None of the patients wanted to be in control group |
*** | ||
| Bokaie, 2023 [42] |
Solution-focused approach, online counselling, eight weekly sessions, 90 min per session Control group: educational pamphlet to read every 3 weeks |
165 eligible participants of which 80 agreed to participate (48.5%) | 80 participants included in study of which 15 were lost to follow-up (18.8%) | *** | |
| Chambers, 2014 [43] |
DVD and tip sheet and sessions, counselling, six–eight telephone sessions delivered by nurses (intervention 1) or by peers (intervention 2) |
405 eligible participants of which 189 agreed to participate (46.7%) | 189 participants included in study of which 30 were lost to follow-up or did not comply (15.9%) | Duration of sessions longer in the nurse group (36 min) as compared to the peer group (29 min) (p4 < .001) | ** |
| Chow, 2014 [44] |
Structured sessions, psycho-educational intervention programme, three individual sessions and one group session Control group received attention on 4 occasions |
30 eligible participants of which 26 agreed to participate (86.7%) |
26 participants included in study of which 2 were lost to follow-up (3.9%) Intervention: 13 participants included of which 4 did not fully comply (30.7%); Control: 13 participants included of which 7 did not receive all attention (53.8%) |
Intervention considered appropriate (time, frequency and provider) by patients Considered practical and feasible by nurses |
** |
| Cullen, 2021 [45] | Online couple-based psychosexual intervention, six sessions | 25 eligible couples of which 18 agreed to participate (72%) | 18 couples included in study of which 3 did not comply with the intervention programme (16.7%) | ** | |
| Du, 2020 [46] | Group intervention with education sessions, seven sessions of at least 30 min | ** | |||
| DuHamel, 2016 [47] |
Sessions and booster call, educational intervention, four sessions of 1 h, booster call between sessions Control group: no calls |
82/204 (40%) eligible patients participated 204 eligible participants of which 82 agreed to participate (40%) |
In total 82 participants included in study of which 9 were lost to follow-up; Intervention: 40 participants included of which 6 were lost to follow-up (15.0%); control: 42 participants of which 3 were lost to follow up (7.1%) Compliance with programme, 96% HCPs (manual), 89% patients (homework) |
* | |
| El- Sayed Saboula, 2015 [48] | PLISSIT counselling, six sessions lasting 2 h each during 3 weeks | 85 participants included in study of which 19 were lost to follow-up (22.3%) | ** | ||
| Esmkhani, 2021 [49] |
PLISSIT (individual) and Sexual Health Model [SHM] (group), counselling, one–three sessions of 40–60 min (individual), 6-h workshop (group) Control group received usual care |
395 eligible participants of which 75 agreed to participate (19%) | In total 75 participants included in study of which 10 were lost to follow-up (13.3%); Individuals: 25 participants of which 3 were lost to follow-up (12.0%); Group: 25 participants of which 0 were lost to follow-up; Control: 25 participants of which 7 were lost to follow-up (28.0%) | ** | |
| Faghani, 2016 [50] |
PLISSIT counselling, 4 × 90-min sessions Control group: no intervention |
*** | |||
| Fatehi et al., 2019 [51] |
Schover’s sexual assessment method, psychosexual counselling, six weekly sessions of 90–120 min |
289 eligible participants of which 118 agreed to participate (40.8%) | In total 118 participants included in study of which 18 were lost to follow-up or excluded from study (15.2%); Intervention: 59 participants of which 8 lost to follow-up (13.6%); Control: 59 participants of which 10 lost to follow-up (16.9%) | **** | |
| Jonsdottir, 2021 [52] | Couple based Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversation (CO-SOTC), three sessions of 45 min | 149 eligible couples of which 60 agreed to participate (49% acceptance rate) | 60 couples included in study of which 1 withdrew after randomization (1.7%) | *** | |
| Jonsdottir, 2021 [53] | Couple based Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversation (CO-SOTC), three sessions of 45 min | 149 eligible couples of which 60 agreed to participate (49% acceptance rate) | 60 couples included in study of which 1 withdrew after randomization (1.7%) | *** | |
| Keshavarz, 2021 [54] |
PLISSIT counselling, seven sessions of 60 min for 4 weeks |
88 eligible participants of which 67 agreed to participate (76.1%) |
2/67 (3.0%) were lost to follow-up 67 participants included in study of which 2 were lost to follow-up (3.0%) |
*** | |
| Khoei, 2022 [55] |
PLISSIT (individual) and Grouped Sexuality Education (group) counselling, one–three sessions of 40–60 min (individual) or 6-h workshop (group) |
395 eligible participants of which 75 agreed to participate (19.0%) | In total 75 participants included in study of which 10 were lost to follow-up (13.3%); Individuals: 25 participants of which 3 were lost to follow-up (12.0%); Group: 25 participants of which 0 were lost to follow-up; Control: 25 participants of which 7 were lost to follow-up (28.0%) | ||
| Li, 2023 [56] |
Systematic Transactional Model of Stress and Coping; psychosocial intervention programme (WeChat), 8-week programme Control group: six articles received over an 8-week period |
185 eligible patient-partner dyads of which 98 couples agreed to participate (53%) |
98 patients included in study of which 26 were lost to follow-up (26.5%); Intervention: 49 patients of which 14 were lost to follow-up (28.6%); Control: 49 patients of which 12 were lost to follow-up (24.5%) 98 partner included in study of which 29 were lost to follow-up (29.6%); Intervention: 49 partners of which 14 were lost to follow-up (28.6%); Control: 49 partners of which 15 were lost to follow-up (30.6%) |
** | |
| Maughan, 2001 [57] |
Information, advice and support, psychosexual intervention by Clinical Nurse Specialist, with visit prior to surgery and home visits (3 on average) Control group had no visits |
Acceptance rate 100% | * | ||
| McCaughan, 2020 [19] |
EASSi5 framework (Tablet-based) Training (e-learning) of 30 min to use tool |
HCPs viewed the EASSi tool as feasible, acceptable, appropriate HCPs deemed EASSi unsuitable for patient who is medically unstable, for patient who is attending with a family member (other than partner), or who is ‘not concerned’ about sexual issues |
** | ||
| McCaughan, 2021 [58] | EASSi framework, brief e-learning consisting of three sections | HCPs viewed tool as easy to use | * | ||
| Mohammadi, 2022 [59] |
EX-PLISSIT6, Counselling, 4 weekly sessions lasting 60–90 min Control group: one online session |
122 eligible participants of which 110 agreed to participate (90.2%) | 110 participants included in study of which 11 were lost to follow-up (10.0%) | **** | |
| Olcer, 2022 [60] |
BETTER7 Counselling, four sessions with 1-week interval |
116 eligible participants of which 77 agreed to participate (66.4%) | 77 participants included in study of which 12 were lost to follow-up (15.6%); Intervention: 38 participants of which 5 were lost to follow-up (13.2%); Control: 39 participants of which 7 were lost to follow-up (17.9%) | ***** | |
| Perz, 2015 [61] |
PLISSIT Self-help booklet consisting of 68 pages providing self-help information (group) or information and 1-h telephone consultation (group 2) |
394 eligible patients of which 88 agreed to participate (22.3%); 122 eligible partners of which 53 agreed to participate (43.4%) |
In total 88 patients included in study of which 29 were lost to follow-up (32.9%); Group 1: 45 patients included of which 12 were lost to follow-up (26.7%); Group 2: 43 patients included of which 17 were lost to follow-up (39.5%) In total 53 partners included in study of which 22 were lost to follow-up (41.5%); Group 1: 25 partners of which 7 were lost to follow-up (28.0%); Group 2: 28 partners of which 15 were lost to follow-up (53.6%) |
Self-help booklet and Health professional information were rated as useful in helping to manage changes to sexuality and talking with their partner about sexuality Self-help booklet was rated favourably | * |
| Reese, 2012 [62] |
Intimacy Enhancement Intervention, Counselling, four phone-based sessions of 50 min |
34 couples invited to participate of which 14 agreed to participate (41.2%) | 14 couples included in study of which 5 were lost to follow-up of did not complete intervention (35.7%) | 83% of patients perceived the programme as easy to participate in and helpful in communication and behavioural skills | ** |
| Reese, 2019 [34] |
PLISSIT Training to equip clinicians for counselling, two modules (15 and 60 min) |
Eight eligible clinicians of which 7 participated (87.5%); 172 approached patients of which 137 agreed to participate (79.9%) | All clinicians completed the intervention; 137 patients included in study of which 3 were lost to follow-up (2.2%) | Clinicians’ responses on post intervention programme evaluation: The results suggested intervention feasibility | * |
| Reese, 2021 [63] | Starting the Conversation, Online patient training including video slideshow (20 min) and five-page workbook | 177 eligible participants of which 144 agreed to participate (81.4%) | In total 144 participants included in study of which 22 were lost to follow-up or did not fully comply to intervention (15.2%) | *** | |
| Reese, 2023 [64] | Starting the Conversation, educational intervention for patients including video slideshow (23 min) and five-page workbook | 42 eligible participants of which 32 agreed to participate (76.2%) | 32 participants included in study of which 1 was lost to follow-up (3.1%) | *** | |
| Roberts, 2020 [65] | Brief sexual symptom checklist for women applied in routine care | ** | |||
| Shalamzari, 2022 [66] | PLISSIT and BETTER-model, Counselling, four sessions of 60–90 min with 1-week interval | 78 participants included in study of which 2 were lost to follow-up (2.6%) | **** | ||
| Taleb, 2023 [67] | Structured sessions, nursing intervention consisting of five sessions | *** | |||
| Wang, 2022 [68] | EX-PLISSIT applied in training for HCPs8 | - | |||
| Winterling, 2020 [23] | Fex-talk, Educational intervention, single session lasting 2 h, optional second session | Fex-Talk intervention was experienced positively by the participating nurses, seemed to increase awareness and appeared to boost confidence to initiate discussions | ** | ||
| Zhang, 2022[69] | Structured sessions, Nurse led intervention, monthly sessions of 4 h, lasting for three consecutive treatment cycles | 120 eligible couples of which 106 agreed to participate (88.3%) | In total 106 couples included in study of which 11 were lost to follow-up (10.4%); Intervention: 53 couples of which 7 were lost to follow-up (13.2%); Control: 53 couples of which 4 were lost to follow-up (13.2%) | ***** |
Abbreviations:
1MMAT Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool
2PLISSIT Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions, Intensive Therapy
3HCPs Healthcare Professionals
4P P-value
5EASSI Engagement, Assessment, Support and Signposting
6EX-PLISSIT Extended-PLISSIT
7BETTER Bring up the topic, Explain, Telling, Timing, Education, Recording
8HCPs Healthcare professionals