eSense Non-Binary: Adapting an Online Intervention for Sexual Health Concerns to Non-Binary Populations
Research Purpose:
eSense is an online platform containing both cognitive-behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based therapy programs to help women experiencing sexual difficulties. While eSense was specifically designed for cisgender women, it holds the potential to be of value for non-binary individuals with sexual difficulties as well if adapted to meet the needs of the non-binary community. Non-binary people lack access to psychological treatments for sexual difficulties that are specifically tailored towards their needs, so an adapted version of eSense offers potential to fill this key gap in healthcare. Soliciting feedback from the non-binary community is essential to adapting eSense into a platform that is inclusive and involves content helpful for non-binary people with sexual difficulties. Our research aims to assess in what ways, if any, eSense needs to be changed to best fit the needs of non-binary people. This study also aims to understand more broadly the need for, and relevance of, treatments for sexual difficulties amongst non-binary people. The results from this study may allow our research team to adapt eSense into a program tailored to non-binary people (eSense Non-Binary), which may increase non-binary people with sexual difficulties’ access to treatment, including those living in remote areas or facing other accessibility barriers. It may also fill healthcare gaps for non-binary people of varying ethnicities, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses.
Research Procedure:
After recruitment, you will need to consent to participate in the study. After doing so, you will be assigned to be part of a focus group session held via Zoom. One week prior to the focus group session, you will be given access to the first module of the eSense program to review. You will have one week to review this module and reflect on what changes should be made to the content, if any, to make the content more relevant to non-binary people. You will then participate in a single, 2-hour focus group session via Zoom with other non-binary participants, facilitated by two non-binary members of the research team. After the focus group session, you will be sent a link to complete a brief follow-up questionnaire. After completing the questionnaire, you will have the option to review all eight modules of eSense if you wish to. After completing each module, you would be sent a brief questionnaire to complete to provide your feedback on the module.
Who can participate?
We are looking for non-binary (e.g., gender non-conforming, genderfluid, genderqueer, etc.) people who:
- Are ≥ 19 years of age
- Report symptoms of sexual difficulties
- Are fluent in English
- Have reliable internet access and basic competency in using online platforms
- Are able and willing to review modules of an online program for one week, participate in a two-hour focus group session, and complete brief associated questionnaires
- Are able and willing to discuss content related to gender, sex, and anatomy
When will the study take place?
Recruitment for this study will begin in July 2023.
Where does this study take place?
This study can be completed entirely online! Questionnaires will be administered electronically, and focus group sessions will be taking place virtually on secure platforms.
Contact:
If you are interested in taking part in this study, please contact Kiarah, our graduate student research assistant coordinating eSense: Non-Binary at kiarah.okane@psych.ubc.ca.
Graduate student co-lead: Kiarah O’Kane (kiarah.okane@psych.ubc.ca)
Principal investigator: Dr. Lori Brotto (lori.brotto@vch.ca)
Undergraduate student research assistant: Preet Kang (kangp@student.ubc.ca)