Nurses perceptions of the impact of breast cancer on a woman's sexuality

Abstract

Many women find that breast cancer diagnosis and treatment seriously disrupt their sexual lives. First there are the most obvious issues the physical changes, exhaustion, nausea and pain from treatment, self-image, empty energy reserves, and the emotional chaos from the diagnosis itself. But there are also many other issues that women may not even know they'll have to face and will need professional help by healthcare professionals especially nurses. The main aim of the study is to investigate the perceptions and educational needs of nurses with regards to the impact of breast cancer on a woman's sexuality. The objectives includes identifying the nurses understanding of sexuality, whilst exploring the nurses awareness of the psychological needs a women with breast cancer experiences in direct relation to sexuality, as well as to examine the nurses views and educational needs of responding to patients with breast cancer. Qualitative approach was utilized in order to achieve these aims and objectives. 10 semi-structured interviews were carried out to nurses with more than two years of working experience on the oncology ward and who were all female. Content analysis was utilized in order to analyze the data. Results of this study show that sexuality remains a taboo subject for healthcare professionals and that guidance is needed in order for nurses to be skilful to engage in sexuality issues conversations with breast cancer women. The researcher recommends further research on the issue of sexuality in healthcare as well as increased awareness regarding sexuality issue in breast cancer women.