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Talking about sex with health professionals: the experience of people with cancer and their partners
Author(s) -
Gilbert E.,
Perz J.,
Ussher J.M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.12216
Subject(s) - human sexuality , medicine , thematic analysis , health professionals , cancer , reproductive health , gerontology , perspective (graphical) , family medicine , health care , gynecology , qualitative research , gender studies , population , environmental health , social science , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , economics , economic growth
Changes to sexuality can be one of the most difficult aspects of life following cancer. This study examines the experience of discussing sexuality post cancer with health care professionals ( HCP s), from the perspective of women and men with cancer ( PWC ), and their partners ( PPWC ), across a range of cancer types. A total of 657 PWC (535 women, 122 men) and 148 PPWC (87 women, 61 men) completed a survey containing closed and open‐ended items, analysed by analysis of variance and thematic analysis. Discussions about sexuality with a HCP were more likely to be reported by men (68%) compared to women PWC (43%), and by women (47%) compared to men PPWC (28%), as well as by those with a sexual or reproductive cancer. Men PWC and women PPWC were most likely to want to discuss sexuality with a HCP , with men PWC and PPWC reporting highest levels of satisfaction with such discussions. Open‐ended responses revealed dissatisfaction with the unwillingness of HCP s to discuss sexuality, unhappiness with the nature of such discussion, and positive accounts of discussions about sexuality with HCP s. These findings lend support to the notion that people with cancer and their partners may have unmet sexual information and support needs.