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Healthcare professionals need training to help them talk more comfortably about sexual issues

October 09, 2001

Ovarian cancer affects sexual functioning, but healthcare professionals' knowledge about this is inadequate, as is their communication with patients about sexual issues, concludes a study in this week's BMJ.

Interviews were conducted with 15 women with ovarian cancer and 43 clinicians and nurses in Leeds to determine their attitudes about, and experiences of, communication about sex.

Some women felt uncomfortable discussing sex, but they felt that the benefits would outweigh any embarrassment. Women felt that time available to discuss psychosexual concerns was limited, but they did not seek extensive information - reassurance of the safety of sex, reassurance that their problems were not unique, and permission to discuss concerns was often all that was needed.

All but one of the healthcare professionals thought that medical staff should discuss psychosexual issues. However, only four clinicians (25%) and five nurses (19%) did so. Knowledge about the impact of ovarian cancer on sexual functioning was lacking, with few healthcare professionals being aware of the problems that can occur.

Healthcare professionals need training to help them communicate more comfortably about sexual issues, say the authors. Detailed discussion may be unnecessary - just a few reassuring words may be enough to relieve some of the fears and problems provoked by ovarian cancer and its treatment, they conclude.

British Medical Journal (BMJ)

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