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

Abstract

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.

Attitudes and beliefs of nurses and physicians about managing sexual health in primary care: A multi‐site cross‐sectional comparative study

“…Finally, sexual health has long been noted to be an educational priority for health science programmes, residency training, and practicing clinicians (Ford et al, 2013). Although clinicians are required to complete continuing education to maintain licensure in many countries (Institute of Medicine, 2010; Karas et al, 2020;Sherwood & Shaffer, 2014), there are limited intervention studies in this area (Clark et al, 2012;Wazqar, 2020 Nurse practitioner 14 (7.9) 13 (92.9) 1 (7.1) 9 (64.3) 5 (35.7)…”

“…Finally, sexual health has long been noted to be an educational priority for health science programmes, residency training, and practicing clinicians (Ford et al., 2013). Although clinicians are required to complete continuing education to maintain licensure in many countries (Institute of Medicine, 2010; Karas et al., 2020; Sherwood & Shaffer, 2014), there are limited intervention studies in this area (Clark et al., 2012; Wazqar, 2020). Online continuing sexual health education (Bos‐Bonnie et al., 2017; Win et al., 2015) tailored for clinicians in a modular approach (Case beer et al., 2002) has been reported to increase knowledge and change clinical practice (Guy et al., 2011; Shabsigh et al., 2009).…”

Health-Related Quality of Life of Omani Colorectal Cancer Survivors

“…Similarly, physicians in Oman might avoid discussing such concerns with female patients out of fear of causing offense, or because they do not have sufficient knowledge regarding evaluation of sexual health in cancer patients. 38 …”

A Pilot Study on the Quality of Sexual Life of Patients Receiving Home Palliative Care in Poland

“…The most common reasons for non-assessment are fear, lack of knowledge about specialist services to which patients may be referred, and lack of access to assessment tools. Health professionals also indicated a need for support and training in this area [15,16]. Additionally, common reasons reported by medical staff were lack of time, prioritizing disease management over conversations about sexual health, or lack of understanding that adults in the final stages of chronic illness and in older age may still value their sexuality [7,[16][17][18].…”