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General internist communication about sexual function with cancer survivors
Elyse R Park1, Sharon L Bober, Eric G Campbell
1Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 50 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. epark@partners.org
Journal of General Internal Medicine
|October 20, 2009
Summary
Many cancer survivors experience sexual dysfunction, yet internists often do not address this issue during follow-up care. Enhanced training is crucial for internists to effectively manage sexual health concerns in cancer survivorship.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Internal Medicine
- Sexual Health
Background:
- Sexual dysfunction is a prevalent and significant concern for cancer survivors.
- Internists are increasingly involved in the long-term care of cancer survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess internists' attitudes and practices concerning sexual dysfunction in cancer survivorship care.
- To identify factors influencing the discussion of sexual health issues by internists.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to 406 physicians in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.
- A response rate of 71% (227 physicians) was achieved.
Main Results:
- Only 46% of responding internists were "somewhat/very" likely to initiate conversations about sexual dysfunction.
- A significant majority (62%) "never/rarely" addressed sexual dysfunction.
- Inadequate training in survivorship was linked to less frequent discussions of sexual dysfunction (OR = 0.45).
- Perceived preparedness to evaluate long-term effects positively correlated with initiating discussions on sexual functioning (OR = 2.49).
Conclusions:
- Sexual dysfunction is frequently overlooked in the follow-up care of cancer survivors managed by internists.
- There is a clear need for additional training to equip internists to address sexual health challenges in cancer survivorship.
- Physician preparedness and perception of patient anxiety influence the likelihood of addressing sexual dysfunction.
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