Barriers and facilitators for oncology nurses discussing sexual issues with men diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer occurs at a time in a man's life when major social life changes are occurring and when body image, fertility, sexual desire and performance can be central issues. Oncology nurses, as members of the multidisciplinary team, are in an ideal position to address men's concerns. The aim of this study was to investigate oncology nurses' self-perceived knowledge and comfort in relation to discussing sexuality concerns with men diagnosed with testicular cancer and to identify the barriers and facilitators to such discussions. This study employed a self-completion, anonymous survey design with a sample of registered nurses working in five, randomly chosen, oncology centres in Ireland. In total, 89 questionnaires (45% response rate) were included for analysis. Findings suggest that although nurses were open to addressing concerns, few informed patients they were available to discuss sexual concerns. Nurses reported lacking knowledge of, and discomfort in, discussing the more intimate aspects of sexuality, including: ejaculatory difficulties, erectile dysfunction, impotence, prosthesis options and testicular self examination. Findings reinforce the need for more comprehensive education on sexuality issues and testicular cancer. Nurses need to take a more proactive approach to sexuality care, as opposed to the 'passive waiting stance' that permeates the current culture of care. Education programmes need to include specific information on sexual issues associated with testicular cancer, and oncology nurses must subsume sexuality as an essential aspect of their role through changes in policies and nursing care planning.

Moore A ，Higgins A ，Sharek D 《-》

Identification of barriers to sexual health assessment in oncology nursing practice.

Julien JO ，Thom B ，Kline NE 《-》

Testicular cancer: addressing the psychosexual issues.

Moore A ，Higgins A 《-》

Sexuality as an aspect of nursing care for women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer in an Irish context.

Lavin M ，Hyde A 《European Journal of Oncology Nursing》

Addressing sexuality issues of women with gynaecological cancer: Chinese nurses' attitudes and practice.

This paper reports a study conducted to describe Chinese nurses' attitudes and practice in addressing the sexuality concerns of people with gynaecological cancer. Women with gynaecological cancer face numerous challenges to their sexuality. The importance of addressing sexuality concerns of people with cancer is emphasized by a growing body of literature in Western countries. This is a descriptive and correlational study. An inventory was adopted to explore Chinese nurses' attitudes and practice related to sexuality care in nursing. Data were collected from December 2009 to February 2010. A sample of 202 nurses working in gynaecological units in China was recruited. Study results revealed that the majority (77·7%) held the attitude that 'sexuality is too private an issue to discuss with patients'. Only 34·2%'make time to discuss sexual concerns with patients'. Regression analysis revealed that nurse' marital status and hospital type in which they were working influenced their practice in sexuality care. Nurses' conservative attitudes towards sexuality, their prejudices about gynaecological cancer, the lack of availability of private environment, the lack of sexuality care training and the failure to include sexuality care in routine nursing care, were found to be factors that significantly influenced sexual care and nursing practice (adjusted R(2) = 0·542, P < 0·001). The study findings contribute to the understanding of Chinese nurses' attitudes and practice in addressing the sexuality concerns of people with gynaecological cancer. There is a need to increase Chinese nurses' awareness of their roles and the importance of equipping themselves with relevant skills in sexuality care in nursing practice.

Zeng YC ，Liu X ，Loke AY 《-》