Dataset Information

Female Sexual Health Training for Oncology Providers: New Applications.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Sexual health care remains an unmet need for women with cancer. Many barriers are described, such as provider discomfort and lack of training; however, there is little evidence-based guidance regarding how to effectively address these obstacles.

Aim

This pilot study was performed to determine whether brief, targeted sexual health training for oncology providers results in improved provider comfort level and frequency of addressing female cancer-related sexual issues.

Methods

A brief (30-45 minute), targeted sexual health training program focused on improving comfort level, knowledge and communication skills when addressing breast cancer-related sexual issues was developed by the primary author. Using a pretest-posttest format, this educational program was provided to oncology providers (physicians and nurses/other allied health) from a suburban health-care system. Surveys based on 5-point Likert scales were provided before and 3-6 month post training.

Main outcome measures

Primary endpoints were changes in mean Likert scores for provider comfort level and self-reported frequency of addressing sexual issues. A secondary endpoint was change in mean Likert scores for perception of access to sexual health resources/referrals.

Results

Eligible respondents included 8 oncologists, 4 surgeons, and 62 nurses/other allied health. For total respondents, comparison of mean Likert scores for survey 1 (n?=?71) and survey 2 (n?=?36) demonstrated statistically significant increases for all parameters queried, including provider comfort level with bringing up (Pre mean Likert score?=?3.4, Post?=?4.3, P?ConclusionBrief, targeted sexual health training for oncology providers positively correlated with improved provider comfort level and frequency of addressing female cancer-related sexual issues.

SUBMITTER: Wang LY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4599556 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Female Sexual Health Training for Oncology Providers: New Applications.

Wang Lynn Y LY Pierdomenico Annette A Lefkowitz Abbe A Brandt Rachael R

Sexual medicine 20150414 3

<h4>Introduction</h4>Sexual health care remains an unmet need for women with cancer. Many barriers are described, such as provider discomfort and lack of training; however, there is little evidence-based guidance regarding how to effectively address these obstacles.<h4>Aim</h4>This pilot study was performed to determine whether brief, targeted sexual health training for oncology providers results in improved provider comfort level and frequency of addressing female cancer-related sexual issues.< ...[more]

PMID: 26468382

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Project description:Aims and objectivesTo evaluate the knowledge and attitudes towards sexual and gender minority (SGM) oncology patients' needs among advanced practice providers (APPs).BackgroundSGM individuals experience health disparities, in part due to lack of access to knowledgeable providers. Despite the important role of APPs in cancer care, less is known about their attitudes and knowledge towards SGM cancer patients.DesignCross-sectional study.MethodsA survey of APPs at a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center assessed self-reported demographics, attitudes, knowledge and postsurvey confidence in knowledge of SGM oncology patient needs. Reporting of this study adheres to STROBE guidelines.ResultsKnowledge of health needs was low with an average of 2.56 (SD = 1.27) items answered correctly out of 6. The majority of APPs self-reported being comfortable treating SGM patients (93.6% and 87.2%, respectively), but less confident in knowledge of their health needs (68.0% and 53.8%, respectively). Although less than half of APPs believed education should be mandatory (44.9%), 79.5% were interested in education about SGMs' unique health needs. Political affiliation, medical specialty, licensure, and having SGM friends or family were associated with various attitude items, but not knowledge. Moderation analyses indicated that APPs who had greater overall knowledge scores were more likely to agree, on average, that knowing sexual orientation, gender identity and sex assigned at birth are important to providing quality oncology care.ConclusionAPPs report being comfortable providing care for SGMs with cancer, but knowledge gaps remain that may inhibit the quality of care provided. Given the interest in education, results would support the development of SGM-related healthcare training for oncology APPs.Relevance to clinical practiceTargeted education for providers during training and continuing education is likely to improve the provision of quality care for SGMs with cancer.

Project description:ObjectivesWe characterized barriers reported by women with breast cancer (BC) regarding clinical discussions of sexual health, clustered women by their endorsement of these barriers, and compared these groups.MethodsBC outpatients (N = 144; M age = 56, 67% White) in a sexual health communication intervention study provided baseline data. Exploratory factor analysis characterized sexual health communication barriers on a standardized measure. Hierarchical cluster analysis detected patient groups with similar response patterns on these factors. ANOVAs, Chi-Square and Fisher's Exact tests compared groups on socio-demographic/medical factors, sexual health communication self-efficacy and outcome expectancies, general clinical self-efficacy, sexual concerns, emotional distress, and discussion about sexual health with an oncology provider.ResultsTwo factors emerged: patients' own beliefs about or perceived inability to discuss sexual health (self-centered barriers), and patients' perceptions of providers' reactions to discussing sexual health (provider-centered barriers); self-centered barriers were endorsed more than provider-centered (P < .001). Three clusters emerged: women who endorsed (a) high self-centered and high provider-centered (n = 19; 13%), (b) high self-centered and low provider-centered (n = 95; 66%), and (c) low self-centered and low provider-centered (n = 30; 21%). Women endorsing more barriers reported lower sexual communication self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and general clinical self-efficacy (P's ≤ .001); no differences in sexual concerns, emotional distress, or discussing sexual health were found.ConclusionsWomen more strongly endorsed self-centered barriers than provider-centered. When grouped according to these barriers, women differed in their confidence and expectations for sexual health communication, regardless of degree of sexual or emotional distress. Interventions are needed to improve both patients' and providers' skills for discussing sexual health.

Project description:Background Tanzania is a country experiencing multiple sexual health challenges, but providers receive no formal training in sexual health.Aim This study aimed to assess (1) what sexual health challenges are commonly seen in clinics in Tanzania, (2) which are raised by patients, (3) which are not addressed and (4) which topics to prioritise for a sexual health curriculum.Setting Healthcare settings in Tanzania.Methods Participants were 60 experienced and 61 student doctors, nurses and midwives working in Dar es Salaam. The authors conducted 18 focus groups stratified by profession (midwifery, nursing or medicine) and experience (practitioners vs. students).Results Providers identified six common sexual health concerns: (1) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and sexually transmissible infection (STI) (especially syphilis and gonorrhoea), (2) sexual violence (including intimate partner violence and female genital mutilation), (3) early and unwanted pregnancy (including early sexual debut and complications from abortion), (4) sexual dysfunctions, (5) key population concerns (e.g. lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT); sex work) and (6) non-procreative sexual behaviour (including pornography and masturbation in males and oral and anal sex practices in heterosexual couples). Across professions, few differences were observed. Homosexuality, sex work, masturbation and pornography were identified as taboo topics rarely discussed. Most participants (81%) wanted one comprehensive sexual health curriculum delivered across disciplines.Conclusion A sexual health curriculum for health students in Tanzania needs to address the most common sexual health concerns of patients. In addition to teaching sexual science and clinical care, skills training in how to address taboo topics is recommended. Students endorsed almost all sexual health topics, which suggests that a comprehensive curriculum is appropriate.

Project description:Sexual health is an important, yet overlooked, aspect of quality of life for gynecologic oncologic patients. Although patients with gynecologic cancer frequently report sexual health concerns, there are limited efforts to address these problems. A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between mental health and sexual health needs to be prioritized.To examine multiple components of sexual health in patients with gynecologic cancer.For the present study, sexual health concerns (ie, sexual frequency, desire, response, and satisfaction; orgasm; and pain during sex; independent variables), beliefs about cancer treatments affecting sexual health (dependent variable), and mental health (ie, anxiety and depressive symptoms; dependent variables) of patients at a US gynecologic oncology clinic were assessed.Demographics; cancer diagnosis; positive screening results for cancer; sexual health histories including sexual frequency, desire, pain, orgasm, responsiveness, and satisfaction; and mental health including depression and anxiety symptoms.Most women reported experiencing at least one sexual health concern, and half the women screened positive for experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Forty-nine percent of participants reported having no or very little sexual desire or interest in the past 6 months. Further, in mediation analyses, pain during sex was significantly and positively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.42, P < .001), and this relationship was fully mediated by believing that cancer treatments affected one's sexual health (B = 0.16, 95% confidence interval = 0.01-0.48, P < .05).Findings emphasize the need to further address and incorporate sexual and mental health into standard care for patients attending gynecologic oncology clinics. Screening women for whether and to what extent they perceive cancer treatments affecting their sexual health could provide a brief, easily administrable, screener for sexual health concerns and the need for further intervention. Intervention development for patients with gynecologic cancer must include mental health components and addressing perceptions of how cancer treatments affect sexual health functioning. Eaton L, Kueck A, Maksut J, et al. Sexual Health, Mental Health, and Beliefs About Cancer Treatments Among Women Attending a Gynecologic Oncology Clinic. Sex Med 2017;5:e175-e183.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Sexual health problems are common. Therefore, training in sexual health is relevant for the clinical practice of trainees and early-career specialists in several specialties who deal with patients with sexual health problems. However, little is known about how sexual health training is provided across countries and specialties. AIM:To assess (i) sexual health training during postgraduate training programs in psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, urology, and endocrinology across Europe; (ii) the confidence of trainees and early-career specialists in dealing with patients with sexual health problems; and (iii) their need for further training in sexual health during postgraduate training programs. METHODS:The study was based on a collaboration among European societies of trainees in these 4 specialties. An online survey was developed and conducted from January 2015 through June 2016. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Self-reported questionnaire. RESULTS:We collected 366 completed surveys from 40 countries. Sexual health training was considered an important or very important part of specialty training by 78.7% of participants. Overall, 62.3% of participants had not received any training in sexual health. Especially in obstetrics and gynecology, the large majority did not have training in sexual health (82.8%), followed by psychiatry (59.8%), urology (58.4%), and endocrinology (56.1%). There were statistically significant differences among specialties in the confidence of participants in managing patients with sexual health problems. In general, trainees and early-career specialists who had received sexual health training felt more confident in dealing with patients with gender dysphoria (P = .011), need for sexual therapy (P = .0004), paraphilic disorders (P = .0003), and sexual dysfunction (P = .0017). CONCLUSIONS:Trainees and early-career specialists found sexual health training important for their future medical practice; however, less than half received it during their postgraduate training. Participants felt more confident in managing patients with sexual health problems when sexual health training was included in the postgraduate training program. Kristufkova A, Pinto Da Costa M, Mintziori G, et al. Sexual Health During Postgraduate Training-European Survey Across Medical Specialties. Sex Med 2018;6:255-262.

Dataset Information

Female Sexual Health Training for Oncology Providers: New Applications.

Introduction

Aim

Methods

Main outcome measures

Results

Publications

Female Sexual Health Training for Oncology Providers: New Applications.

Similar Datasets

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