P0714Participation in a peer support group improves sexual dysfunction in IBD patients: results of an interventional study

Background Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) markedly affect patients’ sexual quality of life. No management strategy has proven effective in this indication. We therefore aimed to evaluate the impact of a peer support group focused on intimacy and body image on sexual function in patients with IBD. Methods We conducted a single-center interventional study, comparing patients who participated in the “Intimate Life and Body Image” peer support group with age- and sex-matched controls. The intervention group included patients enrolled in a scheduled “Intimate Life and Body Image” session, a single 90-minute open discussion held as part of a 2-day patient education program bringing together 10 patients, facilitated by a gastroenterologist, a specialized IBD nurse and a patient representative from the French IBD patients’ association. Control patients were randomly selected from outpatient and infusion unit lists matched for age, sex and non-participation in the session. Sexual function was assessed using the IIEF for male and FSFI for female before the session or consultation for controls and six months later. The primary outcome was the change in sexual function scores between inclusion and six months. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients with a clinically significant improvement in sexual function (at least 0.5 standard deviation increase) and factors associated with sexual function improvement. Results Between 2018 and 2025, 77 patients (81% women, median age 40 years) were included (41 in the intervention and 36 in the control group). At six months, sexual function scores improved significantly in the intervention group compared with controls (+4.92 vs. -9.28; p = 0.02). A clinically meaningful improvement was observed in 22% (9/41) of patients in the intervention group versus 6% (2/36) of controls (p = 0.04). In sensitivity analyses restricted to patients with baseline sexual dysfunction (n = 40, 24/41 (59%) in the intervention and 16/36 (44%) in the control group), the intervention group showed a significantly greater increase in mean sexual function scores compared with controls (+15,1 vs -11,7; p < 0.01, Figure 1) with 33% (8/24) achieving a clinically meaningful improvement versus 0% in the control group (p = 0.01). A stronger perceived impact of digestive symptoms on sexual activity at inclusion was significantly associated with greater improvement in sexual function following the intervention. Conclusion In this first interventional study, sexual function in patients with IBD was improved by participation in a peer support group focused on intimate life, particularly among those with baseline sexual dysfunction. Conflict of interest: Bourget, Laurine: No conflict of interest Laharie, David: No conflict of interest Decourcelle, Mylene: No conflict of interest Macchi, Chantal: No conflict of interest Gohier, Emmanuelle: No conflict of interest Auzas, Annabelle: No conflict of interest Zerbib, Frank: No conflict of interest Berger, Arthur: No conflict of interest Poullenot, Florian: No conflict of interest Riviere, Pauline: No conflict of interest