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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-08-2018 | Original Article

Sexual health and needs for sexology care in digestive cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a 4-month cross-sectional study in a French University Hospital

Authors: Thierry Almont, Corinne Couteau, Hélène Etienne, Pierre Bondil, Rosine Guimbaud, Leslie Schover, Éric Huyghe

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 8/2018

Abstract

Purpose

To assess sexual health and needs for sexology care of cancer patients during chemotherapy.

Methods

We performed a 4-month cross-sectional study in cancer patients treated by chemotherapy in the digestive cancer department of a regional university hospital. Patients were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire about their sexual health, Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire for Male (SQoL-M) or Female (SQoL-F), and their needs for sexology care.

Results

The study sample was composed of 47 men and 31 women. Tumor locations were 36 colorectal (46%), 23 pancreatic (30%), and 19 other digestive cancers (24%). SQoL scores were lower in women (p < .001), in pancreatic and colorectal tumors (p = .041 and p = .033, respectively) compared to other digestive cancers, and in less-educated patients (p = .023). During chemotherapy, 40% of sexually active patients had less frequent sexual intercourse than before diagnosis, and 33% had completely stopped sexual activity. Sexuality care was desired by 44% of respondents. Among them, 83% favored a consultation with a medical sexologist and 63% with a psycho-sexologist, 54% wanted couple therapy, and 31% considered support groups. Patients with colorectal cancer had more frequent sexual intercourse without penetration at the time of survey (p = .036) and more often wanted couple therapy than patients with pancreatic cancer (p = .048).

Conclusions

This study is the first determination of sexual health and sexual quality of life in digestive cancers. Targets for interventions during chemotherapy for digestive cancers include populations with lower sexual quality of life: women, pancreatic sites, patients with sexual troubles during chemotherapy, and less-educated patients.

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Title: Sexual health and needs for sexology care in digestive cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a 4-month cross-sectional study in a French University Hospital
Authors: Thierry Almont
Corinne Couteau
Hélène Etienne
Pierre Bondil
Rosine Guimbaud
Leslie Schover
Éric Huyghe
Publication date: 01-08-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 8/2018
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4125-1

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