# Adaptation and Testing of an Evidence-Based Sexual Health Communication Skills Training Intervention for Patients with Prostate Cancer

> **NIH NIH K08** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $182,236

## Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-cutaneous cancer in U.S. men and causes sexual dysfunction
in up to 90% of patients. Sexual dysfunction is associated with long-term reductions in psychological health
and quality of life. Addressing sexual dysfunction is a critical component of PCa care that requires effective
patient-provider communication, as communication facilitates access to evidence-based sexual dysfunction
therapies. Our prior qualitative studies identified gaps in patient-provider communication about sexual health
as a key barrier to patients’ sexual recovery. Although most U.S. patients receive sexual health counseling
from PCa providers, many patients do not discuss their sexual health concerns with providers despite a desire
for help. PCa patients face significant barriers to communicating with providers about sexual dysfunction,
including loss of confidence due to impaired masculinity as a result of dysfunction. Furthermore, lack of patient
communication about sexual health is associated with worse quality of life. Although there is a critical need for
an intervention to improve PCa patients’ sexual health communication with providers, no efficacious
interventions exist. Starting the Conversation (STC) is an evidence-based sexual health communication skills
training intervention that has proven efficacious in improving breast cancer patients’ self-efficacy for sexual
health communication with providers, rates of sexual health communication with providers, and sexual health.
STC is a patient-facing, self-directed, multimedia intervention, and the core elements of the skills training are
broadly applicable across cancer type and stage. However, in its current format, STC focuses on female
cancer survivors’ sexual health concerns and does not address PCa patients’ barriers to communication.
Therefore, to address the critical need for an intervention to improve PCa patients’ sexual health
communication with providers, we propose to rigorously adapt STC for PCa and to pilot test the adapted
intervention. In Aim 1, we will conduct focus groups with PCa patients and individual interviews with PCa
providers to identify barriers and facilitators of patient-provider communication about sexual health in PCa care
and elicit feedback to adapt STC for PCa. In Aim 2, we will conduct usability testing with PCa patients to refine
the intervention. In Aim 3, we will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial of STC adapted for PCa to assess
feasibility outcomes and preliminary effects of STC on patients’ self-efficacy for sexual health communication
with providers, rates of sexual health communication with providers, and sexual health. Conducting this study
will contribute to Dr. Gupta’s development into an independent investigator with expertise in sexual health and
urologic cancer survivorship, community engagement in research, development of behavioral interventions
(with a focus on patient-provider communication), design and conduct of...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10949827
- **Project number:** 1K08CA293275-01
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Natasha Gupta
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $182,236
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-03 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10949827

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10949827, Adaptation and Testing of an Evidence-Based Sexual Health Communication Skills Training Intervention for Patients with Prostate Cancer (1K08CA293275-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10949827. Licensed CC0.

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