The Effect of Internet-based Cognitive-behavioral Approach on Sexual Intimacy of Women with Spouses having Spinal Cord Injuries: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Introduction Sexual intimacy is a fundamental component of marital relationships and may be adversely affected by chronic conditions, such as spinal cord injury in one or both partners. The present study aimed at determining the effect of internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy on the sexual intimacy of women with spouses having spinal cord injuries. Materials and Methods This research study was conducted as a parallel-randomized clinical trial (RCT) with a control group of women with spouses having spinal cord injuries. The participants in the study included 60 women (30 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group). Cognitive-behavioral intervention was performed on the intervention group in the form of eight 90-minute sessions. The control group received 4 sessions of sexual health education via pamphlets through WhatsApp. At baseline, 8 weeks after baseline, and at 12 weeks, both groups completed the Standard Sexual Intimacy Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, applying descriptive statistics, including t-tests and chi-square tests, as well as analytical statistics, such as repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc test. Results This study showed a statistically significant difference in sexual intimacy scores between the two groups ( p =0.01). The internet-based CBT group displayed a higher mean score post-intervention (90.9±27.2) than the control group (71.8±22.8), and this trend persisted during the follow-up period (CBT: 77.9±22.5; control: 64.6±20.4). Discussion Internet-based CBT could improve the sexual intimacy of women with spouses having spinal cord injury. Conclusion The findings suggested that such interventions can be integrated into comprehensive care for women whose spouses have disabilities, delivered collaboratively by midwives and psychologists. Clinical Trial Registration Number IRCT20220227054139N1