Sexual Health and Rehabilitation eClinic (SHAReClinic)

The considerable prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) after prostate cancer treatment, coupled with the severity/breadth of impact and lack of successful intervention makes SD post-treatment one of the most substantial health-related quality of life burdens in all of cancer survivorship. In 2014, it is estimated that 24,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC) and 4,100 men will die of the disease. Accordingly, 19,900 men will be added to the pool of Canadian prostate cancer survivors in just one year. Today, there are approximately 250,000 prostate cancer survivors across Canada. Research with men in post-radiation therapy indicates that 24-59% suffer SD, while 40%-75% of men in post-radical prostatectomy suffer SD. Sixty percent of men experience significant distress in response to SD. Distress is especially elevated in younger men and evidence suggests that partners may experience even greater distress than patients. Research examining the nature of the distress reveals that the significance of SD reaches far beyond the ability to have an erection, and resides in its complex psychosocial implications, including intimacy loss, low self-esteem, guilt, depression, anxiety, and anger. Additional evidence suggests that patients' SD-related distress can lead to long-term maladjustment in their overall relationships with their partners. The burden of SD following treatment for prostate cancer is responsible for the single greatest impact on patient/partner/couple health-related quality of life; substantially more so than concern for cancer recurrence. Unfortunately, there are no reported interventions to date that have been successful in reducing the impact of SD following treatment, on long-term couple health-related quality of life. Accordingly, given the extensive impact of SD on patient/partner health-related quality of life (HRQOL) there is an existent need for restorative/rehabilitative intervention. The current study proposes the application of an online bio-psychosocial intervention to address sexual dysfunction following treatment for prostate cancer. The bio-medical approach will apply a broader definition of penile rehabilitation which will focus on applying a systematic pro-erectile aid regimen to assist patients in achieving long-term return of erectile functioning, firm enough for penetration, with or without the use of pro-erectile agents/devices. The investigators have termed this bio-medical rehabilitation approach, Erectile Rehabilitation. As such, the rehabilitation algorithm includes but is not limited to the goal of return of natural functioning. Overall, the investigators endeavour to help patients find and adapt to the least invasive pro-erectile agent /device that is successful in achieving desired erections. The investigators justify this approach through extensive research that demonstrates that, following prostate cancer treatment, patients who use pro-erectile agents report better erectile functioning versus those who do not use pro-erectile agents. In addition to addressing Erectile Rehabilitation, this intervention will offer psychosocial support, with the goal of helping couples maintain or restore intimacy after treatment for prostate cancer. Health coach interventions aim at improving sexual satisfaction following prostate cancer treatment have been shown to improve distress and sexual function, and provide patients with the information on pro-erectile aids and couples' experiences.