Gynecological cancer survivors' experiences with sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations
Abstract Introduction Gynecological cancer and its treatment may cause sexual difficulties in terms of physical and psychosocial health. Considering the essential role that nurses play in cancer care, they are well positioned to be ideal providers for addressing sexual health concerns in the follow‐...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14749 |
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| _version_ | 1850115601248288768 |
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| author | Anita Paulsen Ingvild Vistad Liv Fegran |
| author_facet | Anita Paulsen Ingvild Vistad Liv Fegran |
| author_sort | Anita Paulsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Gynecological cancer and its treatment may cause sexual difficulties in terms of physical and psychosocial health. Considering the essential role that nurses play in cancer care, they are well positioned to be ideal providers for addressing sexual health concerns in the follow‐up phase of gynecological cancer. The aim of this study was to gain in‐depth knowledge of how gynecological cancer survivors experience sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations. Material and methods Using a qualitative hermeneutic approach, we conducted individual semi‐structured interviews with 17 women from five different hospitals in Norway between April 4, 2022, and June 2, 2022. The women participated in a large intervention study on cancer follow‐up that included sexual health as one of several topics addressed by trained nurses in three consultations in the first year of follow‐up. A five‐stage Gadamerian‐inspired research method was utilized for data collection and analysis. Results We identified three themes: (1) the importance of nurses listening to the women's own perceptions of sexuality, (2) post‐treatment sexual challenges influence the women's need to communicate about sexual health, and (3) nursing communication can help women regain their sexual health. Conclusions Women who have undergone treatment for gynecological cancer find communication with trained nurses regarding sexual health beneficial. We recommend integration of trained nurses in the follow‐up team. The nurses should adjust communication according to each gynecological cancer survivor's unique understanding of sexuality and inform women with sexual health concerns at that end of treatment, that sexual health can improve during follow‐up. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d1152c62d3424642bb8d56bbd9726d27 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0001-6349 1600-0412 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica |
| spelling | doaj-art-d1152c62d3424642bb8d56bbd9726d272025-08-20T02:36:31ZengWileyActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica0001-63491600-04122024-03-01103355156010.1111/aogs.14749Gynecological cancer survivors' experiences with sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultationsAnita Paulsen0Ingvild Vistad1Liv Fegran2Department of Research Sorlandet Hospital Kristiansand NorwayDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics Sorlandet Hospital Kristiansand NorwayDepartment of Health and Nursing Sciences University of Agder Kristiansand NorwayAbstract Introduction Gynecological cancer and its treatment may cause sexual difficulties in terms of physical and psychosocial health. Considering the essential role that nurses play in cancer care, they are well positioned to be ideal providers for addressing sexual health concerns in the follow‐up phase of gynecological cancer. The aim of this study was to gain in‐depth knowledge of how gynecological cancer survivors experience sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations. Material and methods Using a qualitative hermeneutic approach, we conducted individual semi‐structured interviews with 17 women from five different hospitals in Norway between April 4, 2022, and June 2, 2022. The women participated in a large intervention study on cancer follow‐up that included sexual health as one of several topics addressed by trained nurses in three consultations in the first year of follow‐up. A five‐stage Gadamerian‐inspired research method was utilized for data collection and analysis. Results We identified three themes: (1) the importance of nurses listening to the women's own perceptions of sexuality, (2) post‐treatment sexual challenges influence the women's need to communicate about sexual health, and (3) nursing communication can help women regain their sexual health. Conclusions Women who have undergone treatment for gynecological cancer find communication with trained nurses regarding sexual health beneficial. We recommend integration of trained nurses in the follow‐up team. The nurses should adjust communication according to each gynecological cancer survivor's unique understanding of sexuality and inform women with sexual health concerns at that end of treatment, that sexual health can improve during follow‐up.https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14749communicationfollow‐upgynecological cancernurse‐ledsexual healthsexuality |
| spellingShingle | Anita Paulsen Ingvild Vistad Liv Fegran Gynecological cancer survivors' experiences with sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica communication follow‐up gynecological cancer nurse‐led sexual health sexuality |
| title | Gynecological cancer survivors' experiences with sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations |
| title_full | Gynecological cancer survivors' experiences with sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations |
| title_fullStr | Gynecological cancer survivors' experiences with sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gynecological cancer survivors' experiences with sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations |
| title_short | Gynecological cancer survivors' experiences with sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations |
| title_sort | gynecological cancer survivors experiences with sexual health communication in nurse led follow up consultations |
| topic | communication follow‐up gynecological cancer nurse‐led sexual health sexuality |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14749 |
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