Abstract
Introduction
Patients with cancer and partners often face difficult and enduring sexual concerns. Reviews up to 2017 identified that the provision of a healthcare professional (HP)-led sexual support was not routine practice. Since 2017, there has been a burgeoning growth in research and evidenced-based interventions targeting HP’s sexual support provision in cancer care. Therefore, this review presents a synthesis of HP-led sexual support and factors impacting provision in cancer care from 2017 to 2022 to ascertain if sexual support in clinical practice has changed.
Methods
Using an integrative review design, searches were performed on five electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed and PsycInfo), Google Scholar and manual review of reference lists from 2017 to 2022. Data extracted from studies meeting predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria was synthesised using thematic analysis. Papers were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
Results
From the twelve empirical studies included, three themes were identified: (1) Theory–practice gap: HP’s recognition of the need to provide sexual support to patients with cancer and partners but current provision is lacking, (2) professional and organisational barriers to HPs providing sexual support for patients with cancer and (3) equipping HPs and enabling patients to discuss sexual challenges in cancer care could enhance delivery of sexual support.
Conclusion
Provision of HP-led sexual support in cancer care is still not routine practice and when provided is considered by HPs as sub-optimal.
Policy Implications
Providing HPs with education, supportive resources and referral pathways could enhance the provision of sexual support in cancer care.
Patients with cancer and partners often face difficult and enduring sexual concerns. Reviews up to 2017 identified that the provision of a healthcare professional (HP)-led sexual support was not routine practice. Since 2017, there has been a burgeoning growth in research and evidenced-based interventions targeting HP’s sexual support provision in cancer care. Therefore, this review presents a synthesis of HP-led sexual support and factors impacting provision in cancer care from 2017 to 2022 to ascertain if sexual support in clinical practice has changed.
Methods
Using an integrative review design, searches were performed on five electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed and PsycInfo), Google Scholar and manual review of reference lists from 2017 to 2022. Data extracted from studies meeting predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria was synthesised using thematic analysis. Papers were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
Results
From the twelve empirical studies included, three themes were identified: (1) Theory–practice gap: HP’s recognition of the need to provide sexual support to patients with cancer and partners but current provision is lacking, (2) professional and organisational barriers to HPs providing sexual support for patients with cancer and (3) equipping HPs and enabling patients to discuss sexual challenges in cancer care could enhance delivery of sexual support.
Conclusion
Provision of HP-led sexual support in cancer care is still not routine practice and when provided is considered by HPs as sub-optimal.
Policy Implications
Providing HPs with education, supportive resources and referral pathways could enhance the provision of sexual support in cancer care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Sexuality Research and Social Policy |
| Early online date | 25 Apr 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published online - 25 Apr 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© Crown 2024.
Data Access Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Keywords
- cancer care
- sexuality
- sexual support
- integrative review
- Healthcare professional
- Barriers
- Sexual support
- Sexuality
- Cancer care
- Integrative review
