Sexual satisfaction and its predictors in patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers in six European countries: Baseline data from the DIAdIC study

Abstract

Objective: To identify predictors of sexual satisfaction in patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. Methods: Cross-sectional study using baseline survey data from a randomized controlled trial in six European countries. Patients with advanced cancer and their family caregiver completed measures on sexual satisfaction (one item from Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General questionnaire for patients and Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer scale for family caregivers) and health-related characteristics. Multivariable linear regressions were performed for all predictors (identified based on literature) with sexual satisfaction as dependent variable. Results: The sample comprised 431 patient-family caregiver dyads. Patients with prostate or gynecological cancer reported lower sexual satisfaction (respectively B = −0.267 95% CI: −1.674, −0.594 and B = −0.196, 95% CI −2.103, −0.452). Higher emotional (B = 0.278, 95% CI 0.024, 0.057) physical (B = 0.305, 95% CI 0.012, 0.025) and social functioning (B = 0.151, 95% CI 0.001, 0.013), global health (B = 0.356, 95% CI 0.007, 0.013) and social wellbeing (B = 0.161, 95% CI 0.013, 0.082) among patients were associated with higher sexual satisfaction. Among family caregivers, sexual satisfaction was lower with increased age (B = −0.142, 95% CI −0.022, −0.004). Higher emotional functioning (B = 0.027, 95% CI 0.011, 0.043) and quality of life (B = 0.165, 95% CI −0.165, 0.716) were associated with higher sexual satisfaction in family caregivers. Conclusions: The results underscore that sexual wellbeing of patients and family caregivers is related to health related factors in physical, emotional, and social domains. Patients and family caregivers could benefit from a dyadic approach to address sexual wellbeing.