Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
BMJ Open. 2023 Jan 25;13(1):e067606. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067606.
Vaginal pain during intercourse and urinary incontinence are common complaints after gynaecological cancer treatments. Pelvic health physiotherapy treatments aim at optimising function through education on the use of vaginal moisturisers, dilation therapy programme and pelvic floor muscle training. Given that barriers such as time, travel, and costs are known to limit access to physiotherapy services, a virtual pelvic health physiotherapy programme may help to facilitate access. The primary objective of this study is to identify preferences, barriers and facilitators from individuals with gynaecological cancer regarding virtual pelvic healthcare survivorship care.
This patient-oriented, mixed-methods study will involve an online cross-sectional survey data (phase I) and qualitative data from a series of virtual focus groups (phase II).
an anonymous survey will be used to assess the demographics, health status, prevalence of urogenital symptoms, as well as knowledge, barriers and facilitators to pelvic health services of people with gynaecological cancer. A total of N=50 participants from Canada will be recruited through convenience and self-selection sampling.
a series of virtual semi-structured focus groups will be conducted with 10-15 participants on key topics related to virtual pelvic healthcare. Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed, from which key themes and quotes will be identified. An interpretive description qualitative method will guide analysis and implementation of results.
Approval from the Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta-Cancer Committee (HREBA.CC-21-0498) and of the CISSS Bas-Saint-Laurent (CISSSBSL-2021-10) have been obtained. Informed, electronically signed consent will be required from all participants. Results from this work will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will be used to inform the development and implementation of a new Pelvic eHealth Module for individuals treated for gynaecological cancers. This module will be incorporated into a comprehensive educational and exercise programme offered by a web-based application.
妇科癌症治疗后，阴道性交疼痛和尿失禁是常见的抱怨。盆腔健康物理治疗旨在通过阴道保湿剂使用教育、扩张治疗计划和骨盆底肌肉训练来优化功能。由于已知时间、旅行和成本等障碍会限制对物理治疗服务的获取，虚拟盆腔健康物理治疗计划可能有助于促进获取。本研究的主要目的是确定妇科癌症患者对虚拟盆腔保健生存护理的偏好、障碍和促进因素。
这是一项面向患者的混合方法研究，将包括在线横断面调查数据（第 I 阶段）和一系列虚拟焦点小组的定性数据（第 II 阶段）。
第 I 阶段：将使用匿名调查评估加拿大 50 名参与者的人口统计学、健康状况、尿生殖系统症状的流行情况以及对盆腔健康服务的知识、障碍和促进因素。
第 II 阶段：将与 10-15 名参与者进行一系列虚拟半结构化焦点小组，讨论与虚拟盆腔保健相关的关键主题。采访将被录音并转录，从中确定关键主题和引语。解释描述定性方法将指导分析和实施结果。
已获得艾伯塔癌症委员会健康研究伦理委员会（HREBA.CC-21-0498）和巴斯-圣劳伦斯综合卫生保健中心（CISSSBSL-2021-10）的批准。所有参与者都需要签署知情、电子同意书。这项工作的结果将发表在同行评议的期刊上，并将用于为治疗妇科癌症的个人开发和实施新的盆腔电子健康模块提供信息。该模块将被纳入一个基于网络的应用程序提供的综合教育和锻炼计划中。
