Hosted by the Center for Advancement and Dissemination of Intervention Optimization (CADIO)
In this webinar, Dr. Kelly Shaffer, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at University of Virginia, will present findings from the SHINE factorial optimization trial, which tested four fully-automated, internet-based sexual health intervention components for breast cancer survivors.
Sexual side effects after breast cancer are common and distressing, yet scalable evidence-based support remains limited. The Sexual Health and Intimacy Enhancement (SHINE) trial used the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to optimize a fully automated, internet-delivered intervention for partnered breast cancer survivors with sexual concerns. In this factorial trial, 328 participants were randomized to one of 16 combinations of intervention components addressing sexual health psychoeducation, communication with health care providers, communication with partners, and intimacy promotion. Participants showed significant improvements in sexual distress and function over 24 weeks, although no component main or interaction effects emerged in intent-to-treat analyses. Among participants who completed all assigned components, communication-focused components were associated with reduced sexual distress. Engagement was high overall; however, assigning more components reduced the likelihood of program completion and increased time to completion, while satisfaction remained high across intervention conditions. Greater engagement and satisfaction were also associated with lower sexual distress at follow-up. Findings illustrate how considering both treatment outcomes and engagement can inform decisions about the content and efficiency of optimized digital interventions.