title: Addressing changed sexual functioning in cancer patients: A cross-sectional survey among Dutch oncology nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In most types of cancer, the disease and its treatment can result in altered sexual function (SF). Oncology nurses are strategically placed to address SF since they have frequent patient interaction. Our aim was to establish their knowledge about and attitudes to SF in oncology care and identify their perceived barriers to addressing the subject.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 37-item questionnaire was administered during the 2012 Dutch Oncology Nursing Congress and mailed to 241 Dutch oncology nursing departments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of 477 nurses (87.6%) agreed that discussing SF is their responsibility. Discussing SF routinely is performed by 33.4% of these nurses, consultations mainly consisted of mentioning treatment side-effects affecting SF (71.3%). There were significant differences depending on experience, knowledge, age, academic degree and department policy. Nurses ≤44 years old (p < 0.001), with <10 years oncology experience (p = 0.001), insufficient knowledge (p < 0.001), no academic degree (p < 0.001), and in whose department policy was lacking or inadequate (p < 0.001), were less comfortable discussing SF. Barriers included lack of training, presence of a third party and no angle or motive for initiating discussion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest oncology nurses consider counselling on sexual issues to be an important responsibility, in line with discussing other side-effects caused by the disease or its treatment. Nevertheless, cancer patients may not routinely be receiving a sexual health evaluation by oncology nurses. Results emphasize the potential benefit of providing knowledge, including practical training and a complete department protocol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 WB Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: E.M.Krouwel@lumc.nl.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Krouwel
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 WB Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M P J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nicolai
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 WB Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A Q M J
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: van Steijn-van Tol
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 WB Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Putter
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 WB Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osanto
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 WB Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R C M
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pelger
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 WB Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Elzevier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D009426:Netherlands; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Attitude of health personnel; Cancer; Medical oncology; Nurse's practice patterns; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Sexual dysfunction; Sexual health