Sexual Health Needs and Physician-Patient Interaction Experiences Among Postoperative Radical Prostatectomy Patients...

To systematically elucidate Chinese prostate cancer patients' perceptions and needs regarding sexual health and sexual experience following radical prostatectomy from dual perspectives of both patients and healthcare professionals. It further analyzes barriers and facilitators in physician-patient communication about sexual health problems during clinical interactions, thereby providing scientific evidence for developing effective sexual health support interventions.

A qualitative study.

An interpretive phenomenological research methodology was conducted using semi-structured interviews with purposive sampling that were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interviews covered dimensions including sexual function changes, psychological adjustment, physician-patient interaction and social support. Data analysis was performed using the content analysis method. Content analysis method was conducted using Nvivo 12 software.

Four themes and thirteen sub-themes were identified: Sexual health awareness within psychological and sociocultural contexts (Passive acceptance within practical constraints; Implicit constraints of traditional sexual cultural norms; Mapping of age-directed psychological expectations; Externalisation tendency in attributing sexual dysfunction); Partner Relationship Dynamics and Intimate Interactions (decline in sexual needs and lack of communication; partner support's critical role in sexual health adaptation; decoupling of emotional bonding from sexual functioning experience); Perception and Expression of Sexual Health Needs (prioritization of treatment-related symptom management; physician-patient information asymmetry hindering sexual need expression; illness-experience-driven health support-seeking behaviours); Physician-Patient Interaction Experience and Need for Supportive Environment (desire for professional medical care guidance; fostering supportive environments to facilitate expression of sexual health problems and recovery; demand for diversified rehabilitation strategies and information acquisition channels). Chinese prostate cancer patients exhibit multidimensional complexity in sexual health experiences and needs following radical prostatectomy, where psychosocial and cultural factors, partner relationship dynamics, impaired expression of needs and healthcare support environment play crucial roles. Future clinical practice urgently requires healthcare professionals to enhance awareness and skills regarding sexual health and education, foster supportive environments, and develop precision intervention strategies integrating the biopsychosocial medical model for prostate cancer patients' sexual health.

This study systematically delineates the cognitive characteristics of sexual health among prostate cancer patients within the Chinese sociocultural context (e.g., passive acceptance), proposes 'emotional detachment' as a novel and constructive adaptive strategy, introduces a routinized sexual health assessment framework at the nursing operational level, and further examines barriers and influencing factors related to patient sexual health from the healthcare provider perspective.

This study systematically examined the factors influencing sexual health-related issues among prostate cancer patients from multiple dimensions, including psychological cultural factors, partner relationship dynamics, impaired expression of needs, and healthcare support environments in sexual health outcomes. It offers a China-oriented perspective on the sexual health experiences of prostate cancer patients globally. This research contributing a valuable addition to the international literature on prostate cancer of sexual health. Furthermore, it provides a foundational reference for future development of precise predictive models that integrate the 'biopsychosocial' medical framework and are specifically tailored to prostate cancer patients.

The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist was used.

Patients and healthcare professionals provided valuable insights into the core domains of sexual health needs after prostatectomy through their active participation in this study.