(173) Integration of an Adjunct E-health Biopsychosocial Platform into a Multi-disciplinary Sexual Health Clinic at a Prostate Cancer Survivorship Program
Authors: Ho R , Sare D , Wu E , Zarowski C , Lui M , Hwang A , Sundar M , Higano C , Flannigan R 
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The Sexual Health Clinic (SHC) in a prostate cancer survivorship program uses a biopsychosocial approach for prostate cancer (PCa) survivors and their partners. SHAReClinic (SHARe) is a web-based biopsychosocial platform developed with funding from Movember to help PCa survivors and their partners adapt to and recover sexual function after PCa treatment. The SHC implemented the SHARe program as an adjunct therapy and resource in Nov 2021 for patients participating in the SHC in-person/virtual appointments.

Objective

To evaluate demographics and value of an adjunct e-health biopsychosocial platform within an established multi-disciplinary SHC between Nov 2021 and Jun 2022.

Methods

Patients enrolling in the SHC are introduced to SHARe at the pre-clinic education session. SHARe enrollment is recommended but not mandatory. Patients receive up to 3 verbal or email reminders from the clinician and program staff to sign up on-line for SHARe. SHC-SHARe patients were matched with SHC patients who did not register for the SHARe by i) the time from treatment to the first appointment at SHC, ii) age at diagnosis and age when invited to participate in the survey. Responses were collected over the same time period of 6 days. Mann-Whitney tests were conducted to compare the two groups.

Results

Between Nov 8, 2021 and Jun 23, 2022, 94 new patients were seen. 58/94 patients were interested and received a code for on-line registration for SHARe, but only 24/58 (41%) activated their code. Median time from receiving the code to activation is 6.5 (0-109) days. 24 SHC only patients were matched to the SHC-SHARe patients by the criteria listed above. We observed a higher proportion of the SHC-SHARe patients to be caucasian (75% vs 50%) and retired (63% vs 42%) compared to the matched group (Table 1). 12/24 (50%) SHC-SHARe patients responded to the survey. 11/12 (92%) agreed with the statement that SHARe was helpful in reinforcing the material learning in the clinic. 8/24 (33%) SHC pts responded to the survey. Technical issues, forgetting to sign up, and not being interested were reasons cited by patients for not participating in SHARe. 2/8 (25%) respondents thought they had signed up for SHARe. No significant differences were found between the score for the overall experience with the SHC, how helpful the clinic was, or the likelihood to refer others to the clinic.

Conclusions

Overall, the integration of SHARe as an adjunct resource into the SHC was successful. Lack of other languages available on SHARe may a barrier for non-Native English speakers. While patient satisfaction did not differ between groups, 92% of SHC-SHARe patients agreed that the e-learning platform was helpful in reinforcing the material taught in the clinic. Although our sample size is small, it is clear that the addition of SHARe to our SHC is beneficial. We are exploring strategies to improve the registration rate to SHARe for the 59% who were interested but did not use the registration code.

Disclosure

Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Dr. Flannigan - Boston Scientific, Coloplast, Sustained Therapeutics; Dr. Higano - Consulting fees or honoraria: AstraZeneca Astellas Genetech Lantheus Merck Sharp & Dohme Myovant Menarini Tolmar Vaccitech Verity, Stock ownership: CTI Biopharma, Expert testimony: Ferring.