Front Public Health. 2025 Dec 4;13:1720263. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1720263. eCollection 2025.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This mixed-methods study utilized an exploratory sequential design to develop and evaluate a digital health intervention delivered via social media for sexual dysfunction following cervical cancer surgery. The intervention aimed to improve sexual function and promote health empowerment-conceptualized as the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy to manage one's health-thereby enhancing the overall sexual well-being of survivors.
METHODS: Implemented at a Chinese tertiary hospital, this study adopted an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. We first conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 12 post-operative cervical cancer patients to investigate their sexual health experiences and unmet needs. Guided by these findings, a social media-based intervention was developed and delivered on WeChat, integrating three key elements: interactive multimedia education, a moderated peer support community, and specialist counseling. The efficacy of this digital intervention was then rigorously tested in a randomized controlled trial with 92 participants.
RESULTS: The qualitative interviews (n = 12) revealed five primary themes: physiological and psychological impacts, dynamic shifts in partnership, evolving self-perception, gaps in professional support, and conflicting expectations. These findings constructed a framework for a social media-based intervention. The subsequent randomized controlled trial (n = 92) demonstrated that the intervention group achieved a 19.08% increase in the total Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score at the 3-month follow-up (p < 0.001), with the most substantial improvement observed in sexual satisfaction (+49.79%). Notably, the intervention also led to a significant 13.97% increase in health empowerment (FACT-Cx, p < 0.001) and a 20.19% reduction in stigma (SIS, p < 0.001). Importantly, improvements in sexual function were strongly correlated with gains in health empowerment and reductions in stigma (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: This digitally-enabled intervention bridges the principles of accessible public health communication with patient-centered care. By leveraging a widely-used social media platform, we delivered a holistic program that significantly enhanced sexual function, empowered patients, and mitigated stigma. This work establishes a practical, transferable solution for improving health literacy and quality of life among cancer survivors, demonstrating the potential to bridge service gaps in supportive care.
PMID:41426710 | PMC:PMC12711765 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1720263