Educating Nurses on Sexual Health in Breast Cancer
Educating Nurses on Sexual Health in Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is associated with significant sexual side effects. However, nurses and other healthcare providers are often reluctant to initiate a discussion about sexual health with their patients because of numerous barriers, including knowledge, time, and confidence. This article describes the development and implementation of a sexual health workshop for oncology nurses intended to increase their knowledge about common sexual side effects in patients with breast cancer, strengthen their confidence in addressing sexual health, and provide them with tools and resources to educate their patients.
At a Glance
• Sexual health should be an integral component of patient assessment and education.
• Nurses should review management strategies and address common sexual side effects related to the disease and its treatment with their patients.
• To increase knowledge and confidence, nurses should practice the communication strategies and review the content and resources provided in the workshop.
Before J.W., a 51-year-old woman with breast cancer, was scheduled to begin neoadjuvant chemotherapy, her nurse provided her with information about common side effects associated with the treatment and management strategies. The nurse discussed hair loss, nausea, fatigue, weight gain, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, and loss of libido. She encouraged J.W. to ask questions at any time and stressed that no question would be considered silly or embarrassing. At the end of the discussion, J.W. gave the nurse a big hug and expressed her gratitude, saying that she had been experiencing vaginal dryness for a year. Being intimate with her partner had been so painful that she avoided it at all costs. J.W. said she wished one of her doctors or nurses would have brought it up earlier and admitted to being too embarrassed to discuss the topic on her own.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Breast cancer is associated with significant sexual side effects. However, nurses and other healthcare providers are often reluctant to initiate a discussion about sexual health with their patients because of numerous barriers, including knowledge, time, and confidence. This article describes the development and implementation of a sexual health workshop for oncology nurses intended to increase their knowledge about common sexual side effects in patients with breast cancer, strengthen their confidence in addressing sexual health, and provide them with tools and resources to educate their patients.
At a Glance
• Sexual health should be an integral component of patient assessment and education.
• Nurses should review management strategies and address common sexual side effects related to the disease and its treatment with their patients.
• To increase knowledge and confidence, nurses should practice the communication strategies and review the content and resources provided in the workshop.
Introduction
Before J.W., a 51-year-old woman with breast cancer, was scheduled to begin neoadjuvant chemotherapy, her nurse provided her with information about common side effects associated with the treatment and management strategies. The nurse discussed hair loss, nausea, fatigue, weight gain, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, and loss of libido. She encouraged J.W. to ask questions at any time and stressed that no question would be considered silly or embarrassing. At the end of the discussion, J.W. gave the nurse a big hug and expressed her gratitude, saying that she had been experiencing vaginal dryness for a year. Being intimate with her partner had been so painful that she avoided it at all costs. J.W. said she wished one of her doctors or nurses would have brought it up earlier and admitted to being too embarrassed to discuss the topic on her own.
