Enhancing healthcare professional-led sexual support in cancer care: Acceptability and usability of an eLearning resource and its impact on attitudes towards providing sexual support

Research output: Contribution to journalMeeting Abstractpeer-review

Abstract

Background
Well-documented barriers to the provision of healthcare professional (HP)-led sexual support in cancer care include lack of knowledge, skills and evidence-based educational interventions, to equip HPs to address sexual challenges faced by patients and partners. As a result, sexual support is often avoided. This study examined HPs’ acceptability and usability of the Maximising Sexual Wellbeing: Cancer Care (MSW|CC) eLearning resource for HPs and evaluated its impact on HPs’ sexual attitudes and beliefs to providing sexual support in cancer care.

Methods
HPs (n=87) completed pre and post-test surveys using the modified 12-item Sexual Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (SABS). Post-test, participants rated acceptability and usability of the MSW|CC, with optional free-text comments. A repeated measures t-test assessed changes in HPs’ scores on the SABS. HPs perspectives of the MSW|CC were explored through descriptive statistics and reporting of free text comments.

Results
SABS scores increased significantly from Time 1 (M=35.1, SD=4.8) to Time 2 (M=40.1, SD=4.3), t(86) =-10.2, p
Conclusions
The MSW|CC reduced HPs’ attitudinal barriers towards the provision of HP-led sexual support in cancer care, whilst being acceptable and usable. The MSW|CC could support implementation of global clinical guidelines advocating for HP-led sexual support across the treatment trajectory.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S1368-S1369
Number of pages2
JournalAnnals of Oncology
Volume33
Issue numberS7
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 10 Sept 2022
EventESMO Congress 2022 - Paris, France
Duration: 9 Sept 202212 Sept 2022
https://www.esmo.org/meeting-calendar/past-meetings/esmo-congress-2022

Bibliographical note

Funding
Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland, Movember/TrueNth projects.

Keywords

  • cancer
  • sexual support
  • healthcare professional training
  • elearning

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