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Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training on Revealing Sexual Function in Iranian Women with Breast Cancer

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Abstract

Most studies on the treatment of sexual problems in women with breast cancer have been conducted based on a quantitative approach. Adding a post-intervention qualitative study can help to clarify the impact of the therapy on sexual function. The present mixed-method study was performed to determine the impact of mindfulness based stress reduction on sexual function in women with breast cancer. This study consisted of two quantitative and qualitative phases. The quantitative phase was a randomized clinical trial, where 52 subjects were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups that completed female sexual function index (FSFI) in pretest, posttest (after the intervention), and follow-up (1 month after the intervention) stages. Intervention was an eight-session group mindfulness-based stress reduction. After analyzing data from 46 subjects, qualitative data were collected using the conventional content analysis method. At the follow-up stage, statistically significant improvements were noted in the intervention group for the sexual desire (P = 0.021) and arousal (P = 0.021), but decreases were observed in orgasm scores (P = 0.042). In the control group, overall FSFI score decreased at follow-up compared to those of the pretest and posttest (P < 0.001. (There were no differences between the two groups in the three stages. Two main categories of qualitative analysis, i.e. “mindfulness, an attempt for love continuation” and “Sexual Responsiveness scope”, confirmed the results of quantitative phase. Based on the results, mindfulness intervention can impact the aspects of sexual performance that rely on women, which are mostly of psychological origin and may not affect all aspects.

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Acknowledgements

This study was extracted from MS thesis approved and funded by Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran. We must thank all the authorities of this university as well as the administrators of the study setting and the participating patients.

Funding

This study was extracted from MS thesis approved and funded by Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran. This study was conducted after obtaining a permit from the committee of research IR.BPUMS. RC.1396.659).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

    Razieh Bagherzadeh & Tayebeh Gharibi

  2. Student Research Committee, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

    Rezvan Sohrabineghad

  3. Department of Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

    Farkhondeh Mehboodi & Hakimeh Vahedparast

Authors
  1. Razieh Bagherzadeh
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  2. Rezvan Sohrabineghad
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  3. Tayebeh Gharibi
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  4. Farkhondeh Mehboodi
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  5. Hakimeh Vahedparast
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Contributions

Conceptualization and methodology: HV and RB. Intervention and quantitative Data collection: RS, TG and FM. Quantitative data analysis: RB. Qualitative data collection and analysis: HV and RB. Writing—original draft preparation: RS. Writing—review and editing HV and RB.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hakimeh Vahedparast.

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics Approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences (Date: 2018/2/19. IR.BPUMS.REC.1396.1396.218), and obtaining the IRCT code for quantitative phase of study (Date: 2018/8/8. NO: IRCT20090522001930N2).

Consent to Participate

Study objectives description and were considered. Informed consent was obtained from the participants and was assured of data confidentiality.

Consent to Publish

Not applicable. Objective of study was described for subject. Including publication of results

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Bagherzadeh, R., Sohrabineghad, R., Gharibi, T. et al. Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training on Revealing Sexual Function in Iranian Women with Breast Cancer. Sex Disabil 39, 67–83 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-020-09660-1

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