Sexual health in cancer: the results of a survey exploring practices, attitudes, knowledge, communication, and professional interactions in oncology healthcare providers

Almont, Thierry; Farsi, Fadila; Krakowski, I.; Osta, R. El; Bondil, P.; Huyghe, É.

doi:10.1007/s00520-018-4376-x

Cited by 27 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Another barrier mentioned by more than half of the HCPs was lack of environmental support, including a busy work environment, unavailability of a private place and time constraints. Similar findings have been reported in several other studies (Almont et al., 2018; Chae et al., 2015; Krouwel et al., 2019). Nurses and physicians did not provide sexual health care because they had insufficient time to perform the appropriate sexual examination, management and documentation (Park et al., 2009).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Numerous studies have supported the importance of integrating sexual health concepts in the curriculum of health professional schools and continuing education programmes in this area (Almont et al., 2018; Krouwel et al., 2019; Zeng, Li, Wang, Ching, & Loke, 2011). A pilot study conducted among 82 HCPs found that 30–34 min of comprehensive sexual health education and training significantly enhanced the frequency of discussing sexuality issues with patients (Wang, Pierdomenico, Lefkowitz, & Brandt, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Almont et al. (2018) identified that work experience, practical training programmes and specific education in sexual health have been suggested as potentially important factors in providing sexual health care in the cancer context.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sexual health care in cancer patients: A survey of healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes and barriers

Wazqar

2020

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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Aims and objectives: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare providers regarding sexual health care in cancer patients in Saudi Arabia and explore possible barriers influencing their attitudes. Background: A growing body of research emphasises the importance of healthcare providers addressing the sexual problems of cancer patients. The literature, however, shows that cancer treatment-related sexual problems are not frequently discussed by healthcare providers as expected. In Saudi Arabia, sexual health care in oncology daily practice has not been addressed sufficiently. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with a convenience sample of 150 healthcare providers from a university teaching and referral hospital providing cancer and palliative care in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. The study methods were compliant with the STROBE checklist. Data were collected by Sexual Healthcare Attitudes and Knowledge survey. Descriptive and inferential statistics and Pearson's correlations were performed. A content analysis was used to enhance understanding and support study's findings. Results: Participants had a poor knowledge related to sexual health care in cancer patients, and the low mean attitudes score also represents negative attitudes and higher levels of barriers. Participants had insufficient knowledge about assessment and evaluation of sexual health in cancer patients, and did not know about sexual dysfunction resulting from cancer and its treatment. Knowledge and attitudes had a significantly positive correlation. Conclusion: The study findings indicate there is room for improvement in the sexual health-related knowledge among oncology nurses, doctors and radiation oncologists. Helping healthcare providers overcome barriers to discussing cancer patients' sexual issues needs a careful evaluation of the knowledge, attitudes and barriers that keep them from discussing such issues. Relevance to clinical practice: It is imperative to improve healthcare providers' sexuality knowledge about cancer patients through introducing sexual health-based continuing education programmes, availability of resources (educational materials and clinical checklists) and training in oncology daily practice.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sexual health care in cancer patients: A survey of healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes and barriers

Wazqar

2020

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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“…Although healthcare professionals do feel a responsibility to discuss the subject, literature reveals that such discussions between patient and professional are limited [ 13 , 21 – 23 ]. Healthcare professionals experience various barriers to discussing the subject; those most commonly reported are lack of knowledge and lack of training [ 21 , 24 – 34 ]. Current literature highlights the need for more training and educational interventions for healthcare professionals to enhance patient-professional communication about sexual health [ 24 , 25 , 28 – 32 , 35 , 36 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can the provision of sexual healthcare for oncology patients be improved? A literature review of educational interventions for healthcare professionals

et al. 2020

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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 professionals participated, including physicians, nurses and allied healthcare professionals. Interventions consisted of 6 face-to-face sessions and one online program. Primary objectives of the studies were the assessment of improvement in knowledge about sexual health, improvement of practice, frequency of discussing sexual health and comfort level and the decline of perceived barriers to discussing sexual health. Studies showed that interventions resulted in improved realization of the objectives. Conclusions Although improvement in the knowledge of healthcare professionals was achieved, it was not possible to give an overall recommendation for the development of interventions due to the limited number of studies and heterogeneity of the data. Implications for Cancer Survivors Sexual health is an important area of survivorship that is often neglected. Many oncology healthcare professionals lack training and knowledge to provide such care. More evidence-based practices are needed to improve sexual healthcare for cancer survivors.

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“…Men frequently report that they do not receive adequate information and support to manage sexual concerns. This has been associated with increased psychological morbidity [16,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Tablet-Based, Engagement, Assessment, Support, and Sign-Posting (EASSi) Tool for Facilitating and Structuring Sexual Well-Being Conversations in Routine Prostate Cancer Care: Mixed-Methods Study

McCaughan¹,

Flannagan²,

Parahoo³

et al. 2020

JMIR Cancer

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Background: Long-term side-effects associated with different prostate cancer treatment approaches are common. Sexual challenges are the most frequently occurring issues and can result in increased psychological morbidity. It is recognized that barriers to communication can make initiating discussions around sexual concerns in routine practice difficult. Health care professionals need to routinely initiate conversations, effectively engage with patients, and assess needs in order to provide essential support. One proposed method that could support health care professionals to do this involves the use of prompts or structured frameworks to guide conversations. Objective: This study aimed to assess feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction with the tablet-based Engagement, Assessment, Support, and Sign-posting (EASSi) tool designed to facilitate and structure sexual well-being discussions in routine prostate cancer care. Methods: Health care professionals (n=8) used the EASSi tool during 89 posttreatment appointments. Quantitative data were recorded based on program usage and surveys completed by health care professionals and patients. Qualitative data exploring perceptions on use of the tool were gathered using semistructured interviews with all health care professionals (n=8) and a sample of patients (n=10). Results: Surveys were completed by health care professionals immediately following each appointment (n=89, 100%). Postal surveys were returned by 59 patients (66%). Health care professionals and patients reported that the tool helped facilitate discussions

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Sexual health in cancer: the results of a survey exploring practices, attitudes, knowledge, communication, and professional interactions in oncology healthcare providers

Cited by 27 publications

References 24 publications

Sexual health care in cancer patients: A survey of healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes and barriers

Sexual health care in cancer patients: A survey of healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes and barriers

Can the provision of sexual healthcare for oncology patients be improved? A literature review of educational interventions for healthcare professionals

The Tablet-Based, Engagement, Assessment, Support, and Sign-Posting (EASSi) Tool for Facilitating and Structuring Sexual Well-Being Conversations in Routine Prostate Cancer Care: Mixed-Methods Study

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