title: Factors predicting sexual functioning in patients 3 months after surgical procedures for breast cancer: the role of the Sense of Coherence.
abstract: Women with breast cancer may have significant problems adjusting to the disease and therapy, due to the significant changes in body image and sexuality associated. The aim of this study was to 1) assess sexual functioning 3 months after surgical procedures for breast cancer, and 2) prospectively investigate the usefulness of a Sense of Coherence (SOC) and beauty treatment as predictors of sexual functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred women with breast cancer were randomly assigned to a group receiving beauty treatments during hospitalization or a control group. SOC subscales were assessed the day before surgery. Psychological distress and body image were assessed on day 6 after surgery and sexual functioning was assessed at three months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with breast cancer seem to experience significant issues in sexual functioning 3 months after surgery. Half of them declared no sexual activity and 42% had no interest for sex. In terms of Sense of Coherence, only the perception that resources were available to face the disease (i.e. manageability) had a positive influence on sexual functioning. Beauty treatment was also associated, but the most statistically significant predictor of sexual functioning was a younger age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that coping resources, and especially the perception that resources are available to face disease-related disturbances (i.e. manageability), have a positive influence on sexual functioning. Interventions aimed at improving patient perception of available resources might be useful to improve sexual functioning among patients with breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Psychologie EA 4139, Université de Bordeaux, France. Electronic address: bruno.quintard@free.fr.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Quintard
authors.affiliation: Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique (EHESP School of Public Health), Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Aymery
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Constant
authors.affiliation: Département d'Anesthésie-Réanimation-Algologie, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lakdja
authors.affiliation: Département d'Anesthésie-Réanimation-Algologie, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Labeyrie-Lagardère
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001504:Beauty; D001828:Body Image; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012380:Role; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Breast cancer neoplasms; Oncology; Sense of Coherence; Sexual functioning