Identification of barriers to sexual health assessment in oncology nursing practice.
OBJECTIVE
To explore oncology nurses' attitudes about and knowledge of sexual health. Sexual health is an integral component of quality of life, which is an Oncology Nursing Society research priority.


METHODS
A descriptive, cross-sectional design.


METHODS
A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the northeastern United States.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 576 RNs working in acute care, ambulatory, and perioperative services were approached during an annual mandatory training day.


METHODS
Attitudes and beliefs about patients' sexual health assessment in nursing practice were evaluated with the Sexual Attitudes and Beliefs Survey and 10 demographic questions.


METHODS
Oncology nurses' attitudes and beliefs regarding sexual health assessment of patients.


RESULTS
A statistically significant difference was found in scores based on age and nursing experience, whereby younger and less experienced nurses had higher scores, indicating greater discomfort in discussing sexual health with patients. Statistical significance also was found in scores based on oncology certification and practice setting, whereby oncology certified nurses and outpatient nurses identified fewer attitudinal barriers than noncertified nurses and nurses working in the inpatient setting.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that this patient population may not be receiving a complete sexual health assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses in the sample believed that sexuality was not too private an issue to discuss with their patients and claimed to understand how disease and treatment may affect patients' sexuality. Nurses also believed that their patients should not expect nurses to ask about their sexual concerns and often defer to the physician for any sexually related questions.
Julien
Jerelyn O
JO
Department of Nursing, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. julienj@mskcc.org
Thom
Bridgette
B
Kline
Nancy E
NE
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D018907:Privacy; D019529:Sexuality; D012752:Shame; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires