Discussing Sexuality with Cancer Patients: Oncology Nurses Attitudes and Views (original) (raw)
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Supportive Care in Cancer, 2009
Background The experience of living with cancer is associated with a variety of consequences in several central aspects of a patient's quality of life, including intimacy, body image, human relationships, sexuality, and fertility. Despite their importance, incidence, and impact on psychosocial well-being, sexual health care (SHC) is a matter not frequently dealt with by nurses in daily practice. Goals of work The purpose of this study was to gather evidence regarding knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of oncology nurses toward sexual health issues and to identify salient and latent key factors which influence provision of SHC in the context of cancer. Materials and methods A critical review of the literature was conducted over a period of three decades and 18 original research articles were retrieved and analyzed.
Patient’s sexuality – A neglected area of cancer nursing?
European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 2012
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe nurses' conceptions of dialogues about sexuality with cancer patients. Methods: The study was carried out using phenomenographic method. Ten nurses from different care contexts where nurses meet cancer patients in various phases of trajectory of care were interviewed. Results: The analysis revealed one main category 'We should talk about sexuality e but we usually don't' and three descriptive categories consisting of nurses' qualitatively different conceptions of talks about sexuality: (1) nurses' attitudes, knowledge and skills are impacting, (2) patients' sexual problems are the basis for dialogues and (3) the ward environment is impacting. The main category was hierarchically ranged and could be further understood by the descriptive categories. Conclusion: The study showed that cancer patients' need of talks about and support regarding sexuality were conceived as being low during the whole trajectory of care. Despite this the nurses conceived that they should talk about sexuality with the patients, but due to own attitudes, knowledge and skills, as well as conditions in the ward environment they usually did not. Further studies are needed to clarify how cancer patients especially with non-sex specific diagnosis describe their sexual problems and needs of support in regard to sexuality. About what, when, how and by whom, cancer patients and their partners want information and supportive care related to sexuality need to be clarified.
European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 2015
In most types of cancer, the disease and its treatment can result in altered sexual function (SF). Oncology nurses are strategically placed to address SF since they have frequent patient interaction. Our aim was to establish their knowledge about and attitudes to SF in oncology care and identify their perceived barriers to addressing the subject. Methods: A 37-item questionnaire was administered during the 2012 Dutch Oncology Nursing Congress and mailed to 241 Dutch oncology nursing departments. Results: The majority of 477 nurses (87.6%) agreed that discussing SF is their responsibility. Discussing SF routinely is performed by 33.4% of these nurses, consultations mainly consisted of mentioning treatment side-effects affecting SF (71.3%). There were significant differences depending on experience, knowledge, age, academic degree and department policy. Nurses 44 years old (p < 0.001), with <10 years oncology experience (p ¼ 0.001), insufficient knowledge (p < 0.001), no academic degree (p < 0.001), and in whose department policy was lacking or inadequate (p < 0.001), were less comfortable discussing SF. Barriers included lack of training, presence of a third party and no angle or motive for initiating discussion. Conclusions: Findings suggest oncology nurses consider counselling on sexual issues to be an important responsibility, in line with discussing other side-effects caused by the disease or its treatment. Nevertheless, cancer patients may not routinely be receiving a sexual health evaluation by oncology nurses. Results emphasize the potential benefit of providing knowledge, including practical training and a complete department protocol.
European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 2016
Purpose: To examine the attitudes, practices and perceived barriers in relation to a sexual health care educational intervention among oncology health care professionals at the Landspítali-National University Hospital of Iceland. Methods: The design was quasi experimental, pre -post test time series. A comprehensive educational intervention project, including two workshops, was implemented over a two year time period. A questionnaire was mailed electronically to all nurses and physicians within oncology at baseline (T1, N ¼ 206), after 10 months (T2, N ¼ 216) and 16 months (T3, N ¼ 210). Results: The response rate was 66% at T1, 45% at T2 and 38% at T3. At all time points, the majority of participants (90%) regarded communication about sexuality part of their responsibilities. Mean scores on having enough knowledge and training, and in six of eight practice issues increased significantly over time. Overall, 10e16% reported discussing sexuality-related issues with more than 50% of patients and the frequency was significantly higher among workshop attendants (31%) than non-attendants (11%). Overall, the most common barriers for discussing sexuality were "lack of training" (38%) and "difficult issue to discuss" (27%), but the former barrier decreased significantly by 22% over time. Conclusions: The intervention was successful in improving perception of having enough knowledge and training in providing sexual health care. Still, the issue remains sensitive and difficult to address for the majority of oncology health care professionals. Specific training in sexual health care, including workshops, should be available to health care professionals within oncology.
Journal of Cancer Education, 2019
Sexuality is a significant quality-of-life concern for many cancer patients. Patients may be disadvantaged if they are not informed and not offered sexual health care. We sought to reveal oncologists' current practice and opinions concerning sexual counselling. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice patterns of Dutch medical oncologists regarding treatment-related sexual dysfunction. Questionnaires were sent to 433 members of the Dutch Society of Medical Oncology. The majority (81.5%) of the 120 responding medical oncologists (response rate 30.6%) stated they discussed sexual function with fewer than half of their patients. At the same time, 75.8% of the participating oncologists agreed that addressing sexual function is their responsibility. Sexual function was discussed more often with younger patients and patients with a curative treatment intent. Barriers for avoiding discussing sexual function were lack of time (56.1%), training (49.5%) and advanced age of the patient (50.4%). More than half (64.6%) stated they had little knowledge about the subject and the majority (72.9%) wanted to acquire additional training in sexual function counselling. Medical oncologists accept that sexual function counselling falls within their profession, yet they admit to not counselling patients routinely concerning sexual function. Only in a minority of cases do medical oncologists inform their patients about sexual side effects of treatment. Whether they counsel patients is related to how they view patient's prognosis, patient's age, and self-reported knowledge. Findings indicate there is a role for developing education and practical training.
Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 2020
Purpose Sexual health is an important quality-of-life concern for cancer patients and survivors, but a difficult discussion topic for patients and healthcare professionals. The most important barriers causing healthcare professionals to avoid the topic are lack of education and lack of knowledge. How effective education about sexual health is for oncology healthcare professionals is not clear. The aim of this review is to examine the effectiveness of interventions in improving the provision of sexual healthcare for cancer patients. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines using the following data sources: PubMed, PsychInfo, Embase and Emcare. Quantitative research was included which contained pre-intervention and post-intervention outcomes. The assessment of the studies was conducted independently by two reviewers. A third reviewer was involved if there was no consensus. Results Seven studies were included. In total, 572 oncology healthcare...
Patient experiences with communication about sex during and after treatment for cancer
Psycho-Oncology, 2011
Objective-We studied patients' experiences with oncology providers regarding communication about sexual issues during and after treatment for cancer. Methods-During development of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Sexual Function measure, we collected focus group and survey data on communication with oncology professionals about sexual problems. We conducted 16 focus groups with patients and survivors (n = 109) and analyzed the discussions for major themes, including experiences discussing sex during oncology visits. During testing of the PROMIS Sexual Function measure, we assessed experiences discussing sexual problems with oncology professionals (n = 819) and measured bivariate associations between asking for information from clinicians and sexual function and satisfaction with sex life. Results-Most patients and survivors (74%) thought discussions with oncology professionals about sexual problems were important, but whether they had ever received information about sexual function from a provider varied by cancer type (23% lung, 29% breast, 39% colorectal, and 79% prostate). Those who had asked an oncology professional about sexual problems had significantly greater interest in sexual activity as well as more sexual dysfunction. Conclusions-Sexual problems are a widespread concern among patients and survivors, but there is much variation in experiences of communication about sexual issues and many patients do not receive the information they need from their oncology providers. There are large differences in
Chinese Nurses' Attitudes and Beliefs Toward Sexuality Care in Cancer Patients
Cancer Nursing, 2011
Background: The importance of having nurses address patients' sexuality concerns is emphasized by a growing body of literature. Most relevant studies were conducted in Western cultural settings. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe Chinese nurses' attitudes and beliefs regarding sexuality care in cancer patients. Methods: A descriptive and correlation design was adopted.
Nursing practice in sexual dimension of patients: Literature review
Enfermería Clínica, 2020
Background: Sexuality is human rights, a fundamental part of healthy life which is defined as the absence of illness, social, emotional, mental and physical welfare in relation to the sexuality and has become the consideration of health service aspect. Sexual health is one of the parts of the patient's holistic needs in which the nurse has the responsibility and nursing practice through sexual education. Sexual dimension is not an easy to discuss since culturally it is not easy to express. So, it has become a topic which needs to be explored. Purpose: To identify the description of nursing practice in the patient's sexual health dimension and various factors which obstruct the implementation of sexual discussion. Methods: The research was conducted using databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, ProQuest and Google Scholar. The articles were published within the period of 2000-2018. The synthesis was done based on twenty articles with the main variables namely attitude, belief, nursing practice and obstacles in sexual discussion which comply the checklist of Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist. Results: There were five main topics which elaborated nursing practice when discussing sexual topic with the patient, namely the attitude in discussing sexuality topic, the level of comfort and self confidence in the discussion, initiation in discussing sexuality, spending time in discussing sexuality and the obstacle in conducting sexual discussion. Conclusion: Lack of knowledge and the lack of continuity of education through training was one of the factors that obstructed sexual discussion with the patient.