Abstract
Introduction: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is one ofthe treatment options for patients with hematological malignancies with good results inthe prognosis and survival of patients. Thus it is necessary to deal with its long-termcomplications, such as sexual dysfunction that significantly affects survivors’ qualityof life.Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the sexual function (SF) of survivors ofhematological malignancy and AHSCT, to find the factors that affect it and to compareit with the SF of healthy individuals.Materials and Methods: A multicenter, quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive andcorrelational study was conducted, in which were used measurement scales for datacollection and multiple data analysis methods. Through convenience sampling, 127adults (56 women and 71 men) and sexually active survivors of hematologicmalignancy who underwent AHSCT from 6 months to 5 years were recruited, from 5hospitals in Athens. At the same time, 134 healt ...
Introduction: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is one ofthe treatment options for patients with hematological malignancies with good results inthe prognosis and survival of patients. Thus it is necessary to deal with its long-termcomplications, such as sexual dysfunction that significantly affects survivors’ qualityof life.Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the sexual function (SF) of survivors ofhematological malignancy and AHSCT, to find the factors that affect it and to compareit with the SF of healthy individuals.Materials and Methods: A multicenter, quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive andcorrelational study was conducted, in which were used measurement scales for datacollection and multiple data analysis methods. Through convenience sampling, 127adults (56 women and 71 men) and sexually active survivors of hematologicmalignancy who underwent AHSCT from 6 months to 5 years were recruited, from 5hospitals in Athens. At the same time, 134 healthy and sexually active adults wererecruited (60 women and 74 men). Healthy individuals completed demographic dataand a SF assessment tool according to their gender. Survivors completed demographicand clinical data, a male or female SF assessment tool [International Index ErectileFunction (IIEF) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) respectively], the experiencein close relationships scale (ECRSHORT-FORMSCALE), the cancer locus of controlscale (CLOC) and the impact of event scale-revised (IES-R).Results: Female survivors had a mean age of 44 years and male ones, 47 years. Themedian time from transplant was 3 years and the majority had Hodgkin's lymphoma.According to the FSFI, females had a moderate level of SF, with a better functionalarea of the “pain” (mean: 4.0±1.74) and worse the “orgasm” (mean: 3.19±1.52).According to the IIEF, males had a high level of SF, with a better functional area of the“erection” (mean: 22.54±8.70) and worse the “overall satisfaction” (mean: 6.94±2.47).Females and males had low levels of post-traumatic stress disorder based on the IESR, moderate levels of attachment to relationships according to the ECRSHORTFORMSCALE and moderate levels of control over their disease, according to theCLOC scale. There was a low to moderately negative statistically significant correlationbetween the IES-R and the FSFI and the IIEF. Age (p <0.0005), “intrusion” of the IES-R (p = 0.003) and the “cause of illness” of the CLOC had a statistically significant effecton the overall FSFI score. Education (p <0.0005), diagnosis (p = 0.032), “avoidance”of the IES-R (p = 0.032) and “cause of illness” of the CLOC (p = 0.059) had astatistically significant effect on the overall IIEF score.When comparing female survivors with healthy females, it was found that the healthyones had statistically significantly higher scores in all FSFI subscales (p <0.0005).Comparison of male survivors with healthy males showed that the healthy ones hadstatistically significantly higher scores on “erection” (p = 0.003), “desire” (p = 0.004),“intercourse satisfaction” (p = 0.003), “overall satisfaction” (p = 0.012) and the totalscore (p = 0.013) of the IIEF. Overall, although male and female survivors had affectedSF, there was no statistically significant difference between SF in the male and femalesurvivor groups.Conclusions: Survivors of AHSCT had impaired SF, to varying degrees and areas offunctionality depending on their gender, persisting for several years, thus indicating theimportance of the matter for their well-being and the implementation of integratedhealth care plans in survivorship to meet their needs and problems. The present studywas a first attempt to investigate SF of Greek survivors of AHSCT and it highlights thenecessity of further assessment of SF and the investigation of the factors that mediateand influence it.
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