Seminars in Oncology Nursing
Volume 24, Issue 2 , Pages 80-90 , May 2008

Sexual Assessment in Cancer Care: Concepts, Methods, and Strategies for Success

  • Linda U. Krebs

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to Linda U. Krebs, RN, PhD, AOCN®, FAAN, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Nursing, C288-18, Education 2 North, Room 4209, 13120 E. 19th Ave, PO Box 6511, Aurora, CO 80045

References 

  1. Nusbaum MRH, Gamble G, Skinner B, et al. The high prevalence of sexual concerns among women seeking routine gynecological care. J Fam Pract. 2000;49:229–232
  2. Krebs LU. Sexual and reproductive dysfunction. In:  Yarbro CH,  Frogge MH,  Goodman M editor. Cancer nursing: principles and practice. Ed 6. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett; 2005;p. 841–869
  3. Schover LR. Addressing the sexual needs of cancer survivors. Proceedings of the 9th Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Cancer. Washington, DC; 2004.
  4. World Health Organization. What constitutes sexual health? Progress in Reproductive Health Research [serial online] 2004;67:2-3. Available at: https://www.who.int/reproductive-health/hrp/progress/67.pdf (accessed December 23, 2007).
  5. Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organization. Promotion of Sexual Health. Available at: http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/GESUND/ARCHIV/PSH.HTM (accessed December 23, 2007).
  6. Nusbaum MRH, Hamilton C, Lenahan P. Chronic illness and sexual functioning. Am Fam Physician. 2003;67:347–357
  7. Bitzer J, Platano G, Tschudin S, et al. Sexual counseling for women in the context of physical diseases: a teaching model for physicians. J Sex Med. 2007;4:29–37
  8. Krebs LU. Sexuality and reproductive issues. In:  Yasko J editors. Nursing management of symptoms associated with chemotherapy. Ed 5. Philadelphia, PA: Meniscus; 2001;p. 205–214
  9. National Cancer Institute. Sexuality and reproductive issues (PDQ®) health professional issue. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/sexuality/healthprofessional/ (accessed December 23, 2007).
  10. Jenkins M, Ashley J. Sex and the oncology patient: Discussing sexual dysfunction helps the patient optimize quality of life. Am J Nurs. 2002;102:13S–15S
  11. Katz A. Do ask, do tell. Am J Nurs. 2005;105:66–68
  12. Cristian A. The assessment of the older adult with a physical disability: a guide for clinicians. Clin Geriatr Med. 2006;22:221–238
  13. Jones R, Bartob S. Introduction to history taking and principles of sexual health. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80:444–446
  14. Nusbaum MRH, Lenahan P, Sadovsky R. Sexual healthcare in aging men and women: Addressing the physiologic and psychological sexual changes that occur with age. Geriatrics. 2005;60:18–23
  15. Nusbaum MRH, Hamilton CD. The proactive sexual health history. Am Fam Phys. 2002;66:1705–1712
  16. Nusbaum MR, Helton MR, Ray N. The changing nature of women's sexual health concerns through the midlife years. Maturitas. 2004;49:283–291
  17. Krebs LU. Sexual assessment: Research and clinical. Nurs Clin North Am. 2007;42:515–529
  18. Basson R, Schultz WW. Sexual sequelae of general medical disorders. Lancet. 2007;369:409–424
  19. Johnson BK. Prostate cancer and sexuality: implications for nursing. Geriatr Nurs. 2004;25:341–347
  20. Carmack Taylor CL, Basen-Enquist K, Shinn EH, et al. Predictors of sexual functioning in ovarian cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 2004;229:881–889
  21. Sumanen M, Ojanlatva A, Koskenvuo M, et al. GPs should discuss sex life issues with coronary patients 2005;20:443-452.
  22. Matzaroglou C, Assimakopoulos K, Panagiotopoulous E, et al. Sexual function in females with severe cervical spinal cord injuries: a controlled study with the Female Sexual Function Index. Int J Rehabil Res. 2005;28:375–377
  23. Katz A. Sexuality and myocardial infarction. Am J Nurs. 2007;107:49–52
  24. Stausmire JM. Sexuality at the end of life. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2004;21:33–39
  25. Ganz PA, Desmond KA, Belin TR, et al. Predictors of sexual health in women after a breast cancer diagnosis. J Clin Oncol. 1999;17:2371–2380
  26. Nusbaum MRH, Singh AR, Pyles AA. Sexual healthcare needs of women aged 65 and older. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004;52:117–122
  27. Anderson BL, Lamb M. Sexuality and cancer. In:  Murphy GP,  Lawrence W,  Lenhard RE editor. American Cancer Society textbook of clinical oncology. Ed 2. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society; 1995;p. 699–713
  28. Schover LR. Sexual dysfunction. In:  Holland JC editors. Psycho-oncology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1998;p. 494–499
  29. Annon JS. The behavioral treatment of sexual problems. Honolulu, HI: Mercantile Printing; 1974;43-47
  30. Davis S, Taylor B. From PLISSIT to Ex-PLISSIT. In:  Davis S editors. Rehabilitation: the use of theories and models in practice. Edinburgh: Elsevier; 2006;p. 101–129
  31. Taylor B, Davis S. Using the extended PLISSIT model to address sexual healthcare needs. Nurs Standard. 2006;21:35–40
  32. Mick JM. Sexuality assessment: 10 strategies for improvement. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2007;11:671–675
  33. Wilmoth MC. Life after cancer: What does sexuality have to do with it?. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2006;33:905–910
  34. Schain W. A sexual interview is a sexual intervention. Innov Oncol Nurs. 1988;4:2–315
  35. Mick J, Hughes M, Cohen MZ. Using the BETTER model to assess sexuality. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2004;8:84–86
  36. Kingsberg SA. Taking a sexual history. Obstet Gynecol Clin. 2006;33:535–547
  37. Krebs LU. Cancer 101: I don't know what to say: talking with your patients about sexuality issues. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2006;10:313–315
  38. Penson RT, Gallagher J, Gioiella ME, et al. Sexuality and cancer: conversation comfort zone. The Oncologist. 2000;5:336–344
  39. Woods NF. Human sexuality in health and illness. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 1984;
  40. Magnan M, Reynolds KE, Galvin EA. Barriers to addressing patient sexuality in nursing practice. Medsurg Nurs. 2005;14:282–289
  41. Warner PH, Rowe T, Whipple B. Shedding light on the sexual history. Am J Nurs. 1999;99:34–41
  42. Wallace M. Sexuality. Medsurg Nurs. 2004;13:122–123
  43. McKee AL, Schover LR. Sexuality rehabilitation. Cancer. 2001;92:1008S–1012S
  44. Ohl LE. Essentials of female sexual dysfunction from a sex therapy perspective. Urologic Nurs. 2007;27:57–63
  45. Derogatis LR. Derogatis inventory for sexual functioning (DISF/DISF-SR): preliminary scaling, procedures & administration manual. Baltimore, MD: Clinical Psychometric Research; 1996;
  46. Creti L, Fichten CS, Amsel R, et al. “Global Sexual Functioning:” A single summary score for Nowinksi and LoPiccolo's Sexual History Form (SHF). In:  Davis CM,  Yarber WL,  Bauserman R,  Schreer G,  Davis SL editor. Handbook of sexuality-related measures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 1998;p. 261–267
  47. PROQOLID (the Patient-reported Outcome and Quality of Life Instruments Database). Sexuality. Available at: http://www.qolid.org/proqolid/search__1/pathology_disease?pty=1926 (accessed January 25, 2007).
  48. Albaugh JA, Kellogg-Spadt S. Sexuality and sexual health: the nurse's role and initial approach to patients. Urologic Nurs. 2003;23:227–228
  49. Gott M, Galena E, Hinchliff S, et al. “Opening a can of worms”: GP and practice nurse barriers to talking about sexual health in primary care. Fam Pract. 2004;21:528–536
  50. Katz A. Sexuality after hysterectomy: a review of the literature and discussion of nurse' role. J Adv Nurs. 2003;42:297–303
  51. Rosen R, Kountz D, Post-Zwicker T, et al. Sexual communication skills in residency training: the Robert Wood Johnson model. J Sex Med. 2006;3:37–46
  52. Gott M, Hinchliff S. Barriers to seeking treatment for sexual problems in primary care: a qualitative study with older people. Fam Pract. 2003;20:690–695
  53. Gott M, Hinchliff S, Galena E. General practitioner attitudes to discussing sexual health issues with older people. Soc Sci Med. 2004;58:2093–2103
  54. Magnan M, Reynolds K. Barriers to addressing patient sexuality concerns across five areas of specialization. Clin Nurs Spec. 2006;20:285–292
  55. Lally RM. Sexuality: everything you might be afraid to ask but patients need to know. ONS News. 2006;21:1;4, 5
  56. Wilmoth MC, Bruner DB. Integrating sexuality into cancer nursing practice. Updates Oncol Nurs. 2002;9:1–14
  57. Bickford B. Sexual history taking and genital examination. Primary Health Care. 2006;16:33–35
  58. Schover LR. Sexuality and fertility after cancer. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2005;523–527

PII: S0749-2081(08)00008-9

doi: 10.1016/j.soncn.2008.02.002

Seminars in Oncology Nursing
Volume 24, Issue 2 , Pages 80-90 , May 2008

Article Tools