A nurse-led theory-based psycho-educational intervention programme for women with gynaecological cancer: a...

To explore the effects of a nurse-led psycho-educational interventions (PEI) on uncertainty in illness, anxiety and sexual functioning among women with gynaecological cancer (GC).

An assessor-blinded multicentre randomised controlled trial was conducted in Hong Kong and Hunan, China. The intervention group received a 4-session, 12-week-long nurse-led PEI while the control group received attention on four occasions. The outcomes were measured at baseline and upon completion of the programme.

Of the 402 participants recruited, 202 were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 200 to the control group. The intervention demonstrated significant effects on ambiguity (Group*Time regression coefficient, B =  - 2.13, 95% CI: - 3.87 to - 0.38, p = 0.017), inconsistency (Group*Time, B =  - 1.27, 95% CI: - 2.19 to - 0.34, p = 0.007) and overall uncertainty in illness (Group*Time, B =  - 3.27, 95% CI: - 6.34 to - 0.20, p = 0.037). At post-intervention, women in the intervention group were more likely to perceive a greater level of intimacy (p < 0.001), a greater level of sexual interest (p = 0.023) and their partners to have a greater interest in sexual relations (p = 0.005); and less likely to report a reduction in close physical contact with family and close friends (p = 0.034), when compared with their control counterparts.

We demonstrated the potential benefits of a nurse-led PEI on improving uncertainty in illness and sexual function among women with GC in China, in comparison to usual care. In view of the potential benefits of the PEI on uncertainty in illness and sexual functioning, the intervention could be incorporated into routine clinical practice.

ISRCTN Registry (registration number: ISRCTN18351717, registered on 22 April 2023).