Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34669141›Full record

SynthesisJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2022

Sexual health-related care needs among young adult cancer patients and survivors: a systematic literature review.

Vicky Lehmann, Ellen T M Laan, Brenda L den Oudsten

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
33citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

33 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  8. Appraisal of sexual functioning before and after cancer: insights from adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors and matched healthy controls.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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  12. Nurses' attitudes toward addressing sexual health in their professional practice within cancer care: a Danish cross-sectional study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
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  13. State of the science of sexual health among older cancer survivors: an integrative review.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Vicky LehmannDepartment of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands. v.lehmann@amsterdamumc.nl.ORCID 0000-0003-4898-3176
Ellen T M LaanDepartment of Sexology and Psychosomatic Gynecology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Brenda L den OudstenDepartment of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research On Psychological and Somatic Disorders, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeYoung adult cancer patients and survivors have age-specific care needs, but care needs related to sexual health are poorly understood. A systematic literature review was conducted to examine sexual health-related care needs among patients/survivors diagnosed with cancer during young adulthood (age: 18-39 years). The prevalence and types needs were assessed along with associated patient factors.

methodsFour major databases were screened to identify relevant studies, which were also assessed for risk of bias; all following PRISMA guidelines.

resultsIdentified studies (N = 35) often assessed sexual health-related care needs by whether participants experienced a generic need for support from providers. The prevalence of such needs ranged between 8 and 61.7% and was higher in female survivors and those with more health impairments. The type of diagnosis could also play a role in these varying prevalence rates, but was not systematically tested in included studies. Types of sexual health-related care needs were clustered into practical/emotional support needs (e.g., coping with physical side effects), information needs (e.g., more details), and communication needs (e.g., providers should initiate conversations, validate concerns, be empathetic/open). Needs should be addressed in-person and/or online.

conclusionsThe extent of needs related to sexual health varies among young adult patients and survivors, but types of needs center around improving provision of support and information by providers. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Sexual health should routinely be addressed alongside other potential effects of cancer treatment to allow for constructive conversations between patients and providers. Referrals to (online) resources or specialists should be tailored to individual preferences.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsSexual HealthAdolescentAdultCommunicationFemaleHumansSexual BehaviorSurvivorsYoung AdultCancer (survivorship) careCommunicationInformationNeedsSexual healthYoung adult oncology

Identifiers

PMID34669141
PMCPMC9300501

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.