Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cancer patients in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) experience sexuality concerns most often un-disclosed by patients and unaddressed by oncologists. This study investigated adult cancer patients’ need for information and education on perceived sexuality challenges in Nigeria.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This descriptive, cross-sectional study enlisted 298 adult cancer survivors. A pre-tested researcher-developed questionnaire was used for data collection and analysis done with IBM SPSS, version 19.0 using descriptive and inferential statistics (at p<0.05).
RESULTS
Findings showed that only 5.4% have tried discussing sexuality concerns with caregivers, (282=94.6%) had never even when the majority felt anxious about the sickness (3.66±1.12) and depressed about the loss of a body part (3.13±1.41); females had difficulties performing roles as mothers/wives (3.45±1.47), men reported having difficulties performing
roles as fathers/husbands (3.53±1.52). The majority considered discussions on sexuality as important (4.17±1.36) and desired to a very high extent discussion/information on the impact of cancer and cancer treatment on sexuality and sexual life/behaviour (4.36±0.88) with nurses (67.1%) than doctors.
CONCLUSION
Cancer patients need information on cancer and sexuality. Health care providers should include such discussions during patient assessment and treatment. Sexuality discuss, although appreciated is a sensitive issue that requires skills and ongoing training for cancer care professionals.
Cancer patients in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) experience sexuality concerns most often un-disclosed by patients and unaddressed by oncologists. This study investigated adult cancer patients’ need for information and education on perceived sexuality challenges in Nigeria.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This descriptive, cross-sectional study enlisted 298 adult cancer survivors. A pre-tested researcher-developed questionnaire was used for data collection and analysis done with IBM SPSS, version 19.0 using descriptive and inferential statistics (at p<0.05).
RESULTS
Findings showed that only 5.4% have tried discussing sexuality concerns with caregivers, (282=94.6%) had never even when the majority felt anxious about the sickness (3.66±1.12) and depressed about the loss of a body part (3.13±1.41); females had difficulties performing roles as mothers/wives (3.45±1.47), men reported having difficulties performing
roles as fathers/husbands (3.53±1.52). The majority considered discussions on sexuality as important (4.17±1.36) and desired to a very high extent discussion/information on the impact of cancer and cancer treatment on sexuality and sexual life/behaviour (4.36±0.88) with nurses (67.1%) than doctors.
CONCLUSION
Cancer patients need information on cancer and sexuality. Health care providers should include such discussions during patient assessment and treatment. Sexuality discuss, although appreciated is a sensitive issue that requires skills and ongoing training for cancer care professionals.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 177-189 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | African Journal of Health Sciences |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published (VoR) - 20 Jun 2022 |