Prospective study of vaginal dilator use adherence and efficacy following radiotherapy. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vaginal stenosis (VS) after pelvic radiotherapy (RT) can impair long-term quality of life. We prospectively assessed adherence and efficacy of vaginal dilator (VD) use in women after pelvic RT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Women with gastrointestinal (n=63) and gynecologic (n=46) cancers self-reported use and VD size in monthly diaries for 12months after radiotherapy. Adherence was measured as actual VD use out of recommended times over 12months (3×/week×52weeks=156). RESULTS: Among 109 participants, aged 28-81years (median, 58years), mean percent adherence over 12months was 42% (95% confidence interval [CI], 36-48%). Adherence was highest in the first quarter (56%), but fell to 25% by the fourth. Disease type, treatment sequence, and chemotherapy were predictors of adherence (all P<.05). Eighty-two percent maintained pre-RT VD size at 12months; of 49% with a decrease in VD size at 1month post-RT, 71% returned to pre-RT VD size at 12months. Disease type, younger age, and increased adherence at 6months were associated with maintaining or returning to pre-RT size at 12months (all P⩽.05). CONCLUSION: VD use is effective in minimizing VS, but adherence at 12months was poor. Studies evaluating methods of improving adherence and determining the optimal frequency and duration of use are needed.

publication date

  • July 8, 2015

Research

keywords

  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female
  • Vagina

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC5028178

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84938974955

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.radonc.2015.06.018

PubMed ID

  • 26164775

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 116

issue

  • 1