(097) IMPACT OF PROSTATE CANCER ON SEXUAL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR FEMALE PARTNERS OF PATIENTS

Abstract Introduction Prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment can have a significant impact on sexual quality of life for patients and their partners. We developed and validated a new instrument, the Sexual Concerns In Partners of Patients with Prostate cancer (SCIPPP-F), to measure sexual quality of life among female partners of patients with prostate cancer. Objective To examine scores on the SCIPPP-F questionnaire in 200 female partners from across the U.S. and factors associated with worse scores. Methods The SCIPPP-F survey includes 19 questions in 7 domains: 1) distress/satisfaction, 2) loss of connection as a couple, 3) active communication, 4) discomfort with communication, 5) frustration with sexual counseling, 6) expansion of sexual repertoire, and 7) non-penetrative sexual activity. All questions have 5 response choices (not at all, a little bit, somewhat, quite a bit, very much). Descriptive statistics were used to examine the distribution of survey responses, and the Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare median scores between subgroups of partners based on demographics and relationship characteristics. Results Results of the survey are shown in the table. More than half of partners (53%) felt their sex life is quite a bit or very much worse since the prostate cancer diagnosis and/or treatment, and 35% were not at all satisfied with their current sex life. Loss of intimacy was a common complaint. Additionally, approximately 1/3 of partners were at least somewhat uncomfortable talking to their partner about sexual problems and frustrated/angry about the lack of information they received about sexual health from clinicians, with 51 partners (26%) reporting that they were not at all prepared for sexual side effects. Notably, the majority of partners were at least somewhat comfortable trying new ways to achieve intercourse and at least somewhat satisfied with hugging, kissing, and other intimate activities rather than intercourse. There were no significant differences in median overall SCIPPP-F scores based on partners’ marital status, relationship length (>30 vs < =30 years), or menopausal status; however, there was a trend toward lower (better) SCIPPP-F scores among non-white partners (p = 0.07). Conclusions These results identify multiple actionable gaps in sexual quality of life for female partners of patients with prostate cancer, including a need for more comprehensive sexual counseling prior to treatment and interventions to improve sexual quality of life, such as individual/couples counseling and/or sex therapy. Funding acknowledgement: Department of Defense. Disclosure No.