# Implementation and Evaluation of a Screening Tool for Sexual Dysfunction for Pediatric Cancer Survivors

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2024 · $216,646

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Background: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is estimated to occur in up to 50% of childhood cancer survivors (CCS)
and has important implications for quality of life and mental health. Effective management of SD in AYA-CCS is
substantially limited due to lack of screening and detection of SD in cancer survivorship settings. Adolescent and
young adult-aged CCS (AYA-CCS) may be particularly vulnerable to SD and its under-recognition due to
developmental challenges. This study addresses this critical barrier and serves as the first step in progressing
toward the long-term goal of improving health-related quality of life in AYA CCS through improved screening,
recognition and treatment of SD among CCS. Candidate: The proposed award will enable the candidate, Dr.
Sopfe, to develop the skills necessary to progress toward her career as an independent researcher leading high
quality pragmatic trials. Training: Specifically, Dr. Sopfe will gain experience in Dissemination & Implementation
(D&I) science, pragmatic clinical trials, and mixed methods, which will propel her toward a research career aimed
at developing and disseminating interventions to improve quality of life for CCS. In addition to experiential training
through the research plan, Dr. Sopfe will benefit from a multidisciplinary mentorship team: Primary Mentor, Dr.
Peterson (hybrid trials, qualitative research, patient-reported outcomes); Co-Mentor, Dr. Chow (pediatric cancer
survivorship, clinical trials); and Methods Mentor, Dr. Studts (D&I, mixed methods). Dr. Sopfe’s training plan
includes formal didactic coursework, workshops, and career development programs. Research Plan: This
proposal’s overall objective is to use patient and provider stakeholder input to refine and test an approach to SD
screening for AYA CCS in a clinic setting. Informed by D&I frameworks, this research proposal will used mixed
methods and iterative testing and modification to refine an SD screening approach (Aim 1). This approach will
be then tested in a pilot type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation study (Aims 2 and 3), employing mixed
methods to assess patient and provider outcomes. Environment: The environment for this project is exceptional
with a strong academic Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT at the University of Colorado, the
resources of the University of Colorado Adult and Child Consortium for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery
Science (ACCORDS) (D&I Science Program, Qualitative & Mixed Methods Research Core). The clinical trial will
occur through the 1) Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO) HOPE Survivorship Program; CHCO Neuro-Oncology
group; and 3) Seattle Children’s Hospital Cancer Survivorship Program. This multiclinic design will ensure
successful recruitment as well as increase generalizability of findings. Impact: The proposed study will serve as
a necessary first step in improving screening, detection, and treatment of SD in AYA-CCS; future work will include
establi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10880333
- **Project number:** 5K08CA263192-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Jenna Demedis
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $216,646
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-07-21 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10880333

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10880333, Implementation and Evaluation of a Screening Tool for Sexual Dysfunction for Pediatric Cancer Survivors (5K08CA263192-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10880333. Licensed CC0.

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