Handling sexuality concerns in women with gynecological cancer: Egyptian nurse’s knowledge and attitudes

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Suzan E Mansour and Hanan E Mohamed

Mansoura University, Egypt

: Androl Gynecol: Curr Res

Abstract

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Sexuality is an important part of normal human functioning. Gynecological cancer diagnosis and treatment has devastating effect on sexual issues. The study aim was to investigate oncology nurses’ knowledge and attitudes in relation to provision of sexual health care to women diagnosed with gynecological cancer. The study setting was conducted at oncology center, at Mansoura University Hospital after obtaining Hospital Director’s approval. A subject which consisted of 72 nurses who worked in Gynecological Oncology Department was considered for the study. Four tools were used by the researchers to collect pertinent data. (1) The Self-Administered Structured Schedule, (2) Sexual Health Care Scale–Attitude, (3) Facilitators about sexuality issue discussion in nursing practice, and (4) Barriers about sexuality issue discussion in nursing practice. Results revealed that 100% of nurses were having poor knowledge score regarding sexual health care with mean score 7.3±2.5. There was statistically significant relation between knowledge score and discomfort in providing sexual health care and fear of college’s negative response (P<0.05) while there was no statistical significant relation between knowledge score and feeling uncertain about patient’s acceptance and lack of environmental support (P>0.05). Majority of nurses reported that limited resources, patient embarrassment, staff shortages, patients having more things to be concerned about than having sex, inadequate education preparation, are the most important barriers to provide health sexual education. Provisions of relevant training, availability of private environment, having good nurse patient relationship, good communication are factors which facilitate provision of sexual health care. It was concluded that oncology nurses have poor knowledge score and a feeling of discomfort in the provision of sexual health care. There are many issues acting as barriers and facilitators affecting nurses for providing sexual health care. It is important to put sexual health education into the curriculum of nursing, in order to assess the sexual health of patients within the health care system, continuing education activities and availability of education materials could assist nurses to adequately address sexual concerns while caring for patients with cancer and more research is needed on training of the nurses to overcome the barriers and guidelines or procedures in place for dealing with sexuality-related issues with patients.

Biography

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Suzan Elsaid Mansour, an Egyptian Academic Staff is working a Lecturer at Faculty of Nursing at El-mansoura University. She is specialized in woman’s health and midwifery nursing. She is also Lecturer at Faculty of Nursing, British University. She acts as a Manager of Education Development Center, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University. She has published several papers in national and international journals. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is a member in quality and accreditation committee and member of Mansoura University Laboratory Committee. She is a Manager for the Specialized Nursing Program of Technical Nursing Institution, Mansoura University. She also acts as Reviewer of International Journal of Medical and Health Science Research. She has experience in teaching undergraduate and post graduate students. She is interested in scientific research especially topics related to evidence based and quality of nursing care. Her ongoing mission is to develop nursing and to provide the highest quality nursing care to achieve excellence in patient results, and her role is to facilitate and deliver educational opportunities and experiences to all students