Psychosexual Educational Partners Program (PEPP)

NCT ID: NCT06253182

Last Updated: 2025-08-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-04-02

Study Completion Date

2025-09-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The purpose of this study is to compare two Psychosexual Educational programs for women who have completed treatment for breast or gynecological cancer and their partners in preparation for a well-powered phase III study. The investigators plan to enroll 30 dyads in a 2-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT).

The primary aim will be to assess the preliminary efficacy of the Psychosexual Educational Partners Program (PEPP) on sexual communication.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The Psychosexual Educational Partners Program (PEPP) is a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial that will compare two approaches to a self-paced, workbook-based intervention. PEPP was designed to enhance intimacy among breast and gynecological cancer survivors and their partners by improving sexual communication. The primary aim of the study is to assess the preliminary efficacy of the revised PEPP intervention on sexual communication. Secondary aims include assessing the preliminary efficacy of PEPP on self-efficacy to communicate about sex and intimacy among cancer survivors; and evaluating adherence, acceptance and adverse events within each study arm.

The intervention is six weeks long and does not require any in-person visits. If a breast or gynecological cancer survivor is determined eligible, they will be educated on the purpose, requirements, and procedures. If interested, participants will be emailed the consent form and will schedule a virtual consent/baseline visit that will include their partner. After consent is obtained from both partners, the dyad will be randomly assigned to a study arm and given study numbers. Both members of the dyad will complete online surveys at the virtual baseline visit. The PEPP workbook will be sent to the participants' address and a virtual education visit will be scheduled. At this second virtual visit, both members of the dyad will receive education about their study arm and a start date will be agreed upon for week 1. Beginning week 1 and continuing through week 6, dyads will work through the PEPP workbook which contains three modules. Participants will receive a scheduled email and/or text check-in message from study staff every two weeks to coincide with the end of each module. Messages will provide a link to a brief survey to assess adherence and respond to any participant questions or concerns. Online surveys will be repeated and adverse events will be assessed at week 6.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Breast Cancer Gynecologic Cancer Sexual Dysfunction Partner Communication

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This is a two-arm randomized controlled trial
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
single masking, participant

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Self-Guided PEPP Intervention workbook

Following completion of the virtual consent/baseline visit and the virtual education visit, dyads will work through content of self-guided workbook. Every two weeks, participants will receive a check-in email and/or text message from study staff to assess their adherence and respond to questions or concerns.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Self-Guided PEPP Intervention Workbook

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The workbook contains 3 modules. To complete the workbook in six weeks (one module every 2 weeks), it is recommended that a dyad schedule at least three 30-minute blocks of time each week. Dyads are asked to work through the modules in order and encouraged to set a pace that works for them.

Self-Guided PEPP Education Workbook

Following completion of the virtual consent/baseline visit and the virtual education visit, dyads will work through content of self-guided workbook. Every two weeks, participants will receive a check-in email and/or text message from study staff to assess their adherence and respond to questions or concerns.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Self-Guided PEPP Education Workbook

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The workbook contains 3 modules. To complete the workbook in six weeks (one module every 2 weeks), it is recommended that a dyad schedule at least three 30-minute blocks of time each week. Dyads are asked to work through the modules in order and encouraged to set a pace that works for them.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Self-Guided PEPP Intervention Workbook

The workbook contains 3 modules. To complete the workbook in six weeks (one module every 2 weeks), it is recommended that a dyad schedule at least three 30-minute blocks of time each week. Dyads are asked to work through the modules in order and encouraged to set a pace that works for them.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Self-Guided PEPP Education Workbook

The workbook contains 3 modules. To complete the workbook in six weeks (one module every 2 weeks), it is recommended that a dyad schedule at least three 30-minute blocks of time each week. Dyads are asked to work through the modules in order and encouraged to set a pace that works for them.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age ≥ 18 female.
2. Able to read and write in English.
3. History of any stage of breast and/or gynecological cancer.
4. Completed primary treatment (chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery) ≥ 3 months and ≤ 10 years prior to registration.
5. May use maintenance therapy and concurrent adjuvant endocrine therapy or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) targeted therapy while on study.
6. Have a stable partner, defined as anyone with whom the woman has had an intimate relationship for at least 3 months prior to her cancer diagnosis.
7. Responds yes to the question "Has there been a change in communication and/or intimacy with your partner since your cancer diagnosis?"
8. Both partner and woman patient must agree to participate in the study and sign informed consent to the study.
9. Psychiatric medications such as antidepressants and benzodiazepines are allowed if a person has been on them for 30 days prior to registration, and dose or treatment is not expected to change.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Past history of sexual abuse.
2. Uncontrolled psychiatric disorder such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or schizophrenia (Defined per medical history and/or patient self-report).
3. Currently enrolled in another study that addresses sexual health (enrollment in other clinical trials will be allowed).
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

99 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Noel M Arring, DNP, PhD, RN

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Tennessee Knoxville

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

University of Tennessee Knoxville

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

UTK IRB-23-07925-XP

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Coping Together After Breast Cancer
NCT03930797 COMPLETED NA