The following is a summary of “Attitudes of Palliative Care Specialists Toward Assessing Sexual Dysfunction in Patients With Cancer,” published in the May 2023 issue of Pain Management by Bramati, et al.
The sexual health of patients with cancer often receives inadequate attention in palliative care settings. For a study, researchers sought to assess the attitudes and beliefs of palliative care providers concerning discussions about sexual dysfunction (SD) in patients with cancer.
An anonymous survey was conducted among palliative care professionals to gather their attitudes toward addressing SD in patients with cancer.
Out of 49 palliative care providers who completed the survey (89% response rate), 34 (69%) reported rarely or never discussing sexuality with their patients, believing it to be the responsibility of oncologists. The top reasons for not discussing SD were patients not raising the issue, lack of time, and the presence of a third party. Most participants acknowledged the need for more training in addressing SD and expressed that printed materials would be beneficial.
Palliative care providers often do not address the presence of sexual dysfunction in patients with cancer. The study suggested that additional training and routine screening for SD could aid in addressing the issue more effectively.
Source: jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(23)00490-6/fulltext
