Improving care for women after gynecological cancer: the development of a sexuality clinic

Self-reported Sexual Health-Related Outcomes in Gynecological Cancer Survivors: Results From a Quasi-experimental Multicenter Intervention Study on Follow-up After Gynecological Cancer Treatment

BACKGROUND

Gynecological cancer survivors often face sexual health challenges posttreatment, making interventions to address these issues essential.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in sexual health-related outcomes among gynecological cancer survivors comparing 2 different follow-up models.

METHODS

This preplanned substudy utilized data from the Lifestyle and Empowerment Techniques in Survivorship of Gynecologic Oncology study. Participants were assigned to either the intervention or control group based on their treatment hospital. The control group received standard follow-up care, whereas the intervention group received shared follow-up care with sexual health communication. Analyses included 686 participants with sexual activity as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included feelings of reduced physical attractiveness for all, sexual enjoyment and vaginal dryness (sexually active participants), and reasons for sexual inactivity (sexually inactive participants). Assessments were conducted at the end of treatment and at 6 and 12 months posttreatment.

RESULTS

No statistically significant group differences were found in any of the outcomes at 12 months. The intervention group showed a more favorable trend in sexual activity at 6 months, not sustained at 12 months. Both groups experienced an increase in vaginal dryness. The absence of a partner was the most common reason for sexual inactivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that nurse-led sexual health communication during routine follow-up consultations may have a limited impact on the sexual health-related outcomes measured in this study.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

More intensive and individualized interventions may be necessary for significant improvements in the outcomes of this study.

Implementation of a sexual health clinic in an oncology setting: patient and provider perspectives

BACKGROUND

Sexual dysfunction is prevalent among cancer survivors, significantly impacting patient and partner quality of life. Despite this, sexual health clinics (SHCs) remain rare in cancer centres across Canada. An innovative clinic was developed at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada to address this significant gap in survivorship care. This study examines factors affecting the provision of sexual healthcare and the implementation of a sexual health clinic within a large urban centre.

METHODS

The Quality Implementation Framework was used to explicate patient and provider experience and identify barriers and facilitators to integrating sexual healthcare into routine cancer care workflows. Healthcare providers and patients representing selected cancer types (prostate, cervical, ovarian, testicular, bladder, kidney, and head and neck cancer) participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the Framework qualitative analysis protocol.

RESULTS

The analysis identified three organizing domains and ten themes that describe the unique aspects of the sexual healthcare experience and critical factors for sexual health implementation. Both patients and providers described a lack of sexual health support in the oncology setting and emphasized the need for comprehensive and personalized care. Limitations of current care provision included mutual silence between patients and providers due to discomfort in discussing sexual issues, insufficient provider confidence in delivering optimal sexual healthcare, and constraints related to space and time. Key Factors for implementing a sexual health clinic in oncology emphasized the importance of having a dedicated clinic, flexibility in service delivery, proactive patient engagement, and ongoing staff education.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight significant challenges in addressing sexual health in an oncology setting, underscoring the need for specialized sexual health clinics that are integrated with, but distinct from, routine oncology care. This study further emphasizes the need for incorporating sexual healthcare in survivorship programs as well as the necessity of conducting thorough implementation research, involving multiple stakeholders, prior to launching new programs.

Experiences Relating to Sexual Well-Being Among Muslim Gynecological Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

Background

Gynecological cancers are one of the most important threats to women's health worldwide. The objective of this review is to synthesize and present the best available evidence on the experiences relating to sexual well-being among Muslim women with gynecological cancer.

Methods

The databases searched included Web of Science, Scopus, SID, Google Scholar, ProQuest, MEDLINE, and CINAHL from the inception of the database until August 2021. The review was guided by the JBI methodology used for qualitative systematic reviews. Findings were collated using the meta-aggregation method through JBI SUMARI.

Results

Eight studies involving Muslim women cancer survivors were included in the review. Meta-synthesis of the eight included studies generated 59 findings, which were organized into 14 categories and combined into four synthesized findings.

Conclusions

Gynecological cancer and its treatment results in numerous challenges with sexual well-being among Muslim women cancer survivors. Providing information about sexual activity following gynecological cancer, better communication from health care professionals, and support from the husband is essential to overcome the struggle with intimacy and femininity experienced by the women, thus improving the sexual quality of life of Muslim gynecological cancer survivors.

Pelvic floor dysfunction survivorship needs and referrals in the gynecologic oncology population: a narrative review

The population of survivors of gynecologic malignancies continues to grow. The population of gynecologic oncology survivors has a high prevalence of pelvic floor disorders. Gynecologic oncology patients identify several survivorship needs, including a need for more focused pelvic floor disorder sequelae care. The increasing focus on patient needs following cancer treatment has led to the development of survivorship care plans and other strategies for addressing post-treatment transitions and sequelae. Common themes in patient survivorship care are patient needs for flexible and integrated care, and it is unclear if survivorship care plans in their current state improve patient outcomes. Patient referrals, specifically to urogynecologists, may help address the gaps in survivorship care of pelvic floor dysfunction.The objective of this review is to discuss the burden of pelvic floor disorders in the gynecologic population and to contextualize these needs within broader survivorship needs. The review will then discuss current strategies of survivorship care, including a discussion of whether these methods meet survivorship pelvic floor disorder needs. This review addresses several gaps in the literature by contextualizing pelvic floor disorder needs within other survivorship needs and providing a critical discussion of current survivorship care strategies with a focus on pelvic floor disorders.

Nurse-patient sexual health communication in gynaecological cancer follow-up: A qualitative study from nurses' perspectives

AIM

To explore nurse-patient sexual health communication from the perspectives of nurses trained to address sexual health in gynaecological cancer follow-up.

DESIGN

A qualitative hermeneutic approach.

METHODS

Individual semi-structured interviews with 10 nurses at five different hospitals in Norway were conducted in March and April 2021. A Gadamerian-inspired research method was used in the analysis.

RESULTS

Three main themes with six sub-themes were identified. The three main themes were: (1) building relationships through communication, (2) practice makes perfect-the importance of experience and knowledge, and (3) personal attitudes as promoters or inhibiters of sexual health communication.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insights into nurse-patient sexual health communication from the perspectives of nurses. The nurses in this study experienced the importance of having a good, respectful nurse-patient relationship as the foundation for sexual health communication. The professional confidence gained through experience and knowledge was emphasized, including the significance of how attitudes and taboos can influence sexual health communication.

IMPACT

The main findings of this study indicate that training in sexual health communication and the possibility of addressing sexual health repeatedly give nurses skills and professional confidence to address sexual health in cancer follow-up. Our study indicates that sexual health communication can be achieved in a clinical setting without being overly resource demanding. Our results may also motivate nurses to enhance their knowledge about sexual health in cancer follow-ups.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

A patient representative from the Norwegian Gynaecological Cancer Society have been involved in the planning of this study. She has given valuable contributions from the view of a gynaecological cancer patient.

The needs of gynecological cancer survivors at the end of primary treatment: A scoping review and proposed model to guide clinical discussions

OBJECTIVE

Gynecological cancer (GC) survivors have unmet needs when they complete primary cancer treatment. Despite this, no known research has summarized these needs and survivors' suggestions to address them. We conducted a scoping review to fill these gaps and develop a model useful to guide clinical discussions and/or interventions.

METHODS

English, full length, and accessible primary studies describing the needs of GC survivors were included. No restrictions on date nor country of publication were applied. Two reviewers screened and extracted data, which was verified by a third reviewer.

RESULTS

Seventy-one studies met the inclusion criteria for data extraction. Results were thematically grouped into seven dimensions: physical needs, sexuality-related concerns, altered self-image, psychological wellbeing, social support needs, supporting the return to work, and healthcare challenges and preferences. After consulting with a stakeholder group (a GC survivor, clinicians, and researchers), the dimensions were summarized into a proposed model to guide clinical assessments and/or interventions.

CONCLUSION

Results illuminate the diverse needs of GC survivors as they complete primary cancer treatment and their recommendations for care to meet these needs.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The resulting model can be used to guide assessments, discussions and/or interventions to optimally prepare GC survivors for transition out of primary cancer treatment.

Addressing sexual concerns of female breast cancer survivors and partners: a qualitative study of survivors, partners, and oncology providers about Internet intervention preferences

PURPOSE

Sexual side effects after breast cancer treatment are common and distressing to both survivors and their intimate partners, yet few receive interventions to address cancer-related sexual concerns. To direct intervention development, this qualitative study assessed the perceptions of female breast cancer survivors, intimate partners of breast cancer survivors, and breast cancer oncology providers about how an Internet intervention for couples may address breast cancer-related sexual concerns.

METHODS

Survivors (N = 20) responded to online open-ended surveys. Partners (N = 12) and providers (N = 8) completed individual semi-structured interviews. Data were inductively coded using thematic content analysis.

RESULTS

Three primary intervention content areas were identified by the key stakeholder groups: (1) information about and strategies to manage physical and psychological effects of cancer treatment on sexual health, (2) relationship and communication support, and (3) addressing bodily changes and self-image after treatment. Survivors and partners tended to express interest in some individualized intervention private from their partner, although they also emphasized the importance of opening communication about sexual concerns within the couple. Survivors and partners expressed interest in an intervention that addresses changing needs across the cancer trajectory, available from the time of diagnosis and through survivorship.

CONCLUSION

Internet intervention for couples to address cancer-related sexual concerns, particularly one that provides basic education about treatment side effects and that evolves with couples' changing needs across the cancer trajectory, was perceived as a valuable addition to breast cancer care by survivors, partners, and providers.

An online Sexual Health and Rehabilitation eClinic (TrueNTH SHAReClinic) for prostate cancer patients: a feasibility study

Purpose

The primary objective was to determine the feasibility of implementing the TrueNTH SHAReClinic as a pan-Canadian sexual health and rehabilitation intervention for patients treated for localized prostate cancer.

Methods

The feasibility study was designed to evaluate the accessibility and acceptability of the intervention. Participants from five institutions across Canada were enrolled to attend one pre-treatment and five follow-up online clinic visits over 1 year following their prostate cancer (PC) treatment.

Results

Sixty-five patients were enrolled in the intervention. Website analytics revealed that 71% completed the intervention in its entirety, including the educational modules, with an additional 10% completing more than half of the intervention. Five thousand eighty-three views of the educational modules were made along with 654 views of the health library items. Over 1500 messages were exchanged between participants and their sexual health coaches. At 12 months, the intervention received an overall average participant rating of 4.1 out of 5 on a single item satisfaction measure.

Conclusion

Results support the TrueNTH SHAReClinic as highly acceptable to participants as defined by intervention adherence and engagement. The TrueNTH SHAReClinic demonstrated promise for being a feasible and potentially resource-efficient approach to effectively improving the sexual well-being of patients after PC treatment.

Interventions to Improve Sexual Health in Women Living with and Surviving Cancer: Review and Recommendations

Sexual health concerns, both physical and psychological, are common and represent an unmet need among women with and surviving cancer. Sexual challenges and conditions negatively impact body image, satisfaction, relationships, well-being, and quality of life, yet are widely reported to be under-recognized and undertreated. To guide clinical care and future research on sexual function in women with cancer, we performed a scoping review of interventions for sexual health concerns, including sexual function, body image, genitourinary symptoms, and hot flashes. Relevant publications between 2005 and 2020 were identified by searching PubMed with a combination of medical subject headings and keywords. Articles were included if they focused on the aforementioned topics, were primary research publications, and included female cancer survivors. Studies focusing on women receiving hormone therapy for breast cancer were also included. A total of 91 investigations conducted in the US and abroad were reviewed. Most commonly, interventions included a component of psychoeducation, although pharmacologic, exercise, and other approaches have been evaluated. Many studies have focused on survivors of breast or gynecologic cancer, among other sampling and methodological limitations. These limitations underscore the need for more work on this vital survivorship issue. Recommendations for future research in this area are also offered.

Benefits of a Multidisciplinary Women's Sexual Health Clinic in the Management of Sexual and Menopausal Symptoms After Pelvic Radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine patterns of care and outcomes of female cancer patients treated for sexual and menopausal symptoms following pelvic radiotherapy (PRT) at our institution's multidisciplinary Sexuality, Intimacy, and Menopause (SIMS) Program.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 69 female patients who received PRT for gynecologic or gastrointestinal malignancies and were referred for SIMS Program intervention. Indications for referral and treatment patterns were summarized. Preintervention and postintervention, patients were screened at follow-up visits, and symptoms were recorded. Statistics were performed using Stata 13.1.

RESULTS

Cancer types included cervical (53.6%), endometrial (31.9%), anorectal (5.8%), and vulvar/vaginal (8.7%). The median age was 48 years (interquartile range: 38 to 58 y). Patients were educated on vaginal lubricants, moisturizers, and dilator therapy both before and after PRT. Reasons for SIMS referral included persistent menopausal symptoms (50.7%), dyspareunia (40.6%), vaginal dryness (37.7%), decreased libido (17.4%), intimacy concerns (17.4%), and/or physical examination alterations (27.5%). SIMS interventions included vaginal estrogen (77.3%), nonhormonal climacteric interventions (53%), systemic hormone therapy (31.8%), dehydroepiandrosterone (4.6%), testosterone cream (4.6%), and/or psychological pharmacotherapy or counseling (13.6%). With a median follow-up of 36 months (interquartile range: 18 to 58 mo), sexual symptoms improved or were stable in 83.6%, while menopausal symptoms improved or were stable in 80.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care in improving the sexual and menopausal symptoms of women after PRT. Future work examining the impact of intervention timing with respect to PRT and measures of patient satisfaction is warranted.

The Oncology and Sexuality, Intimacy, and Survivorship Program Model: An Integrated, Multi-disciplinary Model of Sexual Health Care within Oncology

Cancer-related sexual dysfunction is documented as one of the most distressing and long-lasting survivorship concerns of cancer patients. Canadian cancer patients routinely report sexuality concerns and difficulty getting help. In response to this gap in care, clinical practice guidelines were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. A sweeping trend is the creation of specialized clinics for patients' sexual health concerns. However, this much-needed attempt to address this service gap can be difficult to sustain without addressing the cancer care system from a broader perspective. Herein, we describe the implementation of a tiered systemic model of cancer-related sexual health programming in a tertiary cancer center. This program follows the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions, Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model, used previously for guiding individual practitioners. Visually, the model resembles a pyramid. The top 2 levels, corresponding to Intensive Therapy and Specific Suggestions, are comprised of group-based interventions for common cancer-related sexual concerns and a multi-disciplinary clinic for patients with complex concerns. The bottom 2 levels, corresponding to Permission and Limited Information, consist of patient education and provider education and consultation services. We describe lessons learned during the development and implementation of this program, including the necessity for group-based services to prevent inundation of referrals to the specialized clinic, and the observation that creating specialized resources also increased the likelihood that providers would inquire about patients' sexual concerns. Such lessons suggest that successful sexual health programming requires services from a systemic approach to increase sustainability.

Development, implementation, and evaluation of a multidisciplinary oncology sexual health clinic in a Canadian cancer care setting

PURPOSE

Untreated cancer-related sexual health concerns cause significant distress for cancer survivors. To appropriately address the complex sexual health needs of cancer patients, we piloted a specialized, multidisciplinary oncology sexual health clinic within a tertiary cancer center. A quality assurance evaluation was conducted.

METHODS

During once monthly half-day clinics, a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, advanced practice nurses, and radiation and gynecological oncologists offered specialist integrated care to oncology patients. Patients completed assessment questionnaires prior to each clinic appointment and a follow-up telephone interview approximately 4 months after their initial appointment.

RESULTS

Over the 2-year pilot, 224 patients were referred to the cancer center's broader sexual health program; 100 patients were triaged to the clinic. A total of 79 new and 58 follow-up appointments were offered. Average wait time for an initial visit was 97 days. Patients' most frequent concerns included vulvovaginal atrophy, dyspareunia, reduced sexual desire, and erectile dysfunction. Self-reported sexual distress was well above the clinical cutoff at baseline (N = 77, M = 29.78, SD = 12.74). A significant reduction in sexual distress was observed at follow-up (N = 67, M = 21.90, SD = 11.34, t(66) = 7.41, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Referral rates indicate a high demand for specialized sexual health services within cancer care. Ongoing specialist care is needed to appropriately address the multifaceted sexual concerns of cancer survivors and to adequately manage high distress and symptom comorbidity.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Results inform a more comprehensive characterization of the presenting concerns of cancer survivors seeking multidisciplinary sexual health care.

Feasibility of implementing a cervix cancer-specific patient-reported outcome measure in routine ambulatory clinics

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the implementation of a cervix cancer-specific patient-reported outcome measure, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Cervical Cancer module (EORTC QLQ-CX24), into gynecologic oncology clinics.

METHODS

This was a prospective, multi-institutional, cross-sectional study involving cervix cancer patients previously treated with curative intent radiotherapy who were attending routine follow-up appointments. Between January 2017 and August 2018, eligible patients were approached to complete the EORTC QLQ-CX24 prior to their clinical encounter and then review it with their oncologist. Patient and oncologist experience was evaluated using Feedback Questionnaires following the encounter. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results of the EORTC QLQ-CX24 and Feedback Questionnaires. Open-ended questions within the Feedback Questionnaires were analyzed to identify themes.

RESULTS

Eighty-four patients consented to participate in the study. Of these, 80 (95.2%) completed the EORTC QLQ-CX24 and 76 (90.4%) completed both the EORTC QLQ-CX24 and the Feedback Questionnaires. There were high rates of completion for most items within the EORTC QLQ-CX24 (93-98%), except for items pertaining to vaginal symptoms and sexual health (34-35%). All eligible oncologists participated (n = 9). Overall, patients and oncologists positively endorsed use of the questionnaire during clinical encounters. The majority of patients (80%) and oncologists (89%) reported use of the questionnaire improved communication, including discussion of sensitive topics. Interestingly, only a minority of patients and oncologists stated a perceived preference for electronic completion (18% and 44%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Implementation of the EORTC QLQ-CX24 in gynecologic oncology clinics was feasible and acceptable according to patients and oncologists.

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

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.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s11764-020-00898-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Sexual dysfunction in female cancer survivors: A narrative review

OBJECTIVES

Due to improvements in earlier detection and expansions in available treatments, the number of individuals surviving with cancer is steadily increasing. Sexual dysfunction is a common and often persistent complication for cancer survivors, affecting >60% of women diagnosed with cancer. Although highly prevalent, issues related to sexual health are often not addressed among survivors, with women reporting less discussion with providers compared to men.

METHODS

In this narrative review, we present a case series of three women seen in a psycho-oncology clinic who experienced sexual dysfunction following a cancer diagnosis. We then review existing literature on the presentation and management of sexual issues associated with cancer and its treatment.

RESULTS

The three cases highlight different mechanisms of sexual dysfunction after cancer, including anatomic changes, hormonal alterations, psychiatric conditions and medication side effects. The literature review includes discussion of the prevalence and course of sexual dysfunction in female cancer survivors. Tools for screening and assessment are then reviewed, as well as contributing factors and common presenting symptoms. We conclude with a discussion of both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches to management.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite its high prevalence and considerable impact on quality of life, the complication of sexual dysfunction after cancer diagnosis and treatment is still under recognized and undertreated. Improving awareness, communication, and screening, as well as appropriate referral to treatment, could have a profound impact on the ever growing number of women surviving with cancer with sexual health concerns.

Stepped approach to improving sexual function after gynaecological cancer: the SAFFRON feasibility RCT

BACKGROUND

Women affected by gynaecological cancer are often unaware of the sexual consequences of both the cancer and its treatment. Most do not receive appropriate advice or help to recover sexual function, and the effect on their sexuality may be profound, both physically and emotionally. However, several potential therapies can be effective in helping recover some sexual engagement and change self-perception around sex. A major initial challenge is informing and involving patients in an appropriate and sensitive manner, and a further issue is delivering therapies in busy gynaelogical oncology clinics. This study was conceived in response to a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) call asking for proposals to improve sexual functioning in women treated for gynaecological cancer while taking into account associated issues of mood. Existing evidence-based therapies for improving sexual function after cancer treatment were adapted and placed within a 'stepped care' model for delivering these in the NHS setting. An assessment and treatment stepping algorithm was developed in parallel, both to assign women to a treatment level at assessment and to follow their progress session by session to advise on changing intervention level. The assessment tool was applied to all participants on the principle that the problem was sexual difficulty, not the cancer of origin.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged > 18 years (with partners at their choice) treated for any gynaecological malignancy with surgery and/or chemotherapy and/or radiation at University College London Hospital or Bristol Gynaecological cancer centres, minimally 3 months post end of treatment, of any sexual orientation, with sexual function difficulties identified by three initial screening questions.

DESIGN

A feasibility two-arm, parallel-group randomised controlled pilot trial.

SETTING

Two NHS gynaecological cancer centres, one in London and one in Bristol.

INTERVENTIONS

A three-level stepped care intervention.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of conducting a full-scale investigation of stepped therapy and indicate the potential benefits to patients and to the NHS generally.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Recruitment to study, proportion of women stepping up, number of usable data points of all measures and time points over length of trial, and retention of participants to end of trial.

RESULTS

Development of the intervention and accompanying algorithm was completed. The study was stopped before the recruitment stage and, hence, no randomisation, recruitment, numbers analysed, outcomes or harms were recorded.

LIMITATIONS

As the study did not proceed, the intervention and its accompanying algorithm have not been evaluated in practice, and the capacity of the NHS system to deliver it has not been examined.

CONCLUSIONS

None, as the study was halted.

FUTURE WORK

The intervention could be studied within a clinical setting; however, the experience of the study group points to the need for psychosocial studies in medical settings to establish pragmatic and innovative mechanisms to ensure adequate resource when extending staff clinical skills and time to deliver any new intervention for the duration of the trial.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN12010952 and ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02458001.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the NIHR HTA programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 5. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

How to ask and what to do: a guide for clinical inquiry and intervention regarding female sexual health after cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

As the number of female cancer survivors continues to grow, there is a growing need to bridge the gap between the high rate of women's cancer-related sexual dysfunction and the lack of attention and intervention available to the majority of survivors who suffer from sexual problems. Previously identified barriers that hinder communication for providers include limited time, lack of preparation, and a lack of patient resources and access to appropriate referral sources.

RECENT FINDINGS

This study brings together a recently developed model for approaching clinical inquiry about sexual health with a brief problem checklist that has been adapted for use for female cancer survivors, as well as practical evidence-based strategies on how to address concerns identified on the checklist. Examples of patient education sheets are provided as well as strategies for building a referral network.

SUMMARY

By providing access to a concise and efficient tool for clinical inquiry, as well as targeted material resources and practical health-promoting strategies based on recent evidence-based findings, we hope to begin eliminating the barriers that hamper oncology providers from addressing the topic of sexual/vaginal health after cancer.

Consequences of gynecological cancer in patients and their partners from the sexual and psychological perspective

The diagnosis of gynecological cancer and the following consequences of the treatment radically change the lives of cancer patients and their partners. Women experience negative consequences in terms of sexual, psychological and social functioning. Surgical treatment may result in a decrease in sexual pleasure and pain during intercourse. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause a loss of libido and negatively affect the capacity to experience pleasure or orgasm.

Treatment-related changes may include the occurrence of body image disorders, decreased quality of life as well as depressive and anxiety disorders among patients. Furthermore, a negative influence on the relationship between the affected women and their partners, as well as an adverse effect on the social activity, can be observed. Cancer is not an individual experience. It also affects partners of the sick women in terms of psychological and sexual functioning.

This article depicts possible problems encountered by cancer patients and their partners from the psychological and sexual perspective. The emphasis is put on understanding sexuality not only in the context of sexual performance, but also in a wider perspective.

Physical examination of the female cancer patient with sexual concerns: What oncologists and patients should expect from consultation with a specialist

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Sexual concerns are prevalent in women with cancer or cancer history and are a factor in patient decision making about cancer treatment and risk-reduction options. Physical examination of the female cancer patient with sexual concerns, regardless of the type or site of her cancer, is an essential and early component of a comprehensive evaluation and effective treatment plan. Specialized practices are emerging that focus specifically on evaluation and treatment of women with cancer and sexual function problems. As part of a specialized evaluation, oncologists and their patients should expect a thorough physical examination to identify or rule out physical causes of sexual problems or dysfunction. This review provides oncology professionals with a description of the physical examination of the female cancer patient with sexual function concerns. This description aims to inform anticipatory guidance for the patient and to assist in interpreting specialists' findings and recommendations. In centers or regions where specialized care is not yet available, this review can also be used by oncology practices to educate and support health care providers interested in expanding their practices to treat women with cancer and sexual function concerns. CA Cancer J Clin 2016;66:241-263. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Sexual Activity and Function in Patients With Gynecological Malignancies After Completed Treatment

OBJECTIVE

Sexual activity (SA) and sexual function (SF) after completion of treatment are central for quality of life (QoL) in women affected by gynecological cancer (GC). The aim of this study was to analyze the sexual outcome and overall QoL of women after treatment for primary GC compared with a healthy control group (CG).

METHODS

In a multicenter cross-sectional study, 77 women aged 28 to 67 years were surveyed at least 12 months after completion of primary therapy for cervical, endometrial, or vulvar cancer [gynecological cancer group (GCG)]. Data were collected through validated questionnaires (Female Sexual Function Index-d, EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30, and Sexual Activity Questionnaire) and compared to a control of 60 healthy women (CG).

RESULTS

In the GCG, 41.3% were sexually active compared to 78.0% in the CG. Twelve women of the CG and 42 women of the GCG indicated the reasons for their sexual inactivity. The most common reason for sexual inactivity in the GCG was "the-presence-of-a-physical-problem" [18/42 (42.9%) vs 2/12 (16.7%) in the CG], whereas in the CG, "because-I-do-not-have-a-partner" was most common [6/12 (50.0%) vs 11/42 (26.2%) in the GCG]. Sexually active patients in the GCG had an SF comparable to the CG. In multivariate analysis of the total cohort (n = 137), relationship status [solid partnership vs living alone; odds ratio (OR), 33.82; 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.83-236.70], smoking (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.06-1.03), and age (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79-0.94) influenced SA significantly. The probability of SA thereby decreased with increasing age. Quality of life and subjective general health status were not significantly different between the GCG and the CG (EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 score 68.25 vs 69.67).

CONCLUSIONS

A high number of patients with GC remain sexually inactive after treatment, indicating that women experience persistent functional problems. However, women who regain SA after completed treatment have a good overall SF and vice versa.

Beyond barriers: fundamental 'disconnects' underlying the treatment of breast cancer patients' sexual health

Sexual health concerns represent one of the most frequently experienced and longest-lasting effects of breast cancer treatment, but research suggests that service providers rarely discuss sexual health with their patients. Existing research examining barriers to addressing patients' sexual health concerns has focused on discrete characteristics of the provider-patient interaction without considering the broader context in which these interactions occur. Drawing on the experiences of 21 breast cancer survivors, this paper explores three ways in which fundamental cultural and structural characteristics of the cancer care system in the USA may prevent breast cancer survivors from addressing their sexual health concerns, including: (1) when patients discussed sexual health with their providers, their providers approached sexuality as primarily physical, while participants experienced complex, multidimensional sexual health concerns; (2) specialisation within cancer care services made it difficult for patients to identify the appropriate provider to address their concerns; and (3) the structure of cancer care literally disconnects patients from the healthcare system at the time when sexual side effects commonly emerged. These data suggest that addressing breast cancer survivors' sexual health concerns requires a multifaceted approach to health systems change.