Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38396183›Full record

ArticleQuality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation2024

Sexual health in Belgian cervical cancer survivors: an exploratory qualitative study.

Eline Naert, Hans Van Hulle, Emiel A De Jaeghere, Marjolein R P Orije, Sarah Roels, Rawand Salihi, Koen J Traen, Kristien Watty, Lise-Marie Kinnaer, Hans Verstraelen and 3 more

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Article in Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
2.0field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

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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

13 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Eline NaertDepartment of Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. eline.naert@uzgent.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1508-7263
Hans Van HulleClinical Trial Center, AZ Sint-Jan, Brugge, Belgium.
Emiel A De JaeghereDepartment of Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Marjolein R P OrijeDepartment of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Sarah RoelsDepartment of Radiation Oncology, AZ Sint-Jan, Brugge, Belgium.
Rawand SalihiGynecological Pelvic Oncology Network (GYPON), Ghent, Belgium.
Koen J TraenDepartment of Gynaecology, OLV Hospital, Aalst, Belgium.
Kristien WattyDepartment of Gynaecology, AZ Delta, Roeselare, Belgium.
Lise-Marie KinnaerDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, University Center for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Hans Verstraelen *Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Philippe Tummers *Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
Katrien Vandecasteele *Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
Hannelore G Denys *Department of Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Ghent University Hospital · BEAZ Sint-Jan · BEAZ Delta · BEGhent University · BEOnze Lieve Vrouwziekenhuis Hospital · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo assess experiences of sexuality and of receiving sexual healthcare in cervical cancer (CC) survivors.

methodsA qualitative phenomenological study using semistructured one-on-one interviews was conducted with 15 Belgian CC survivors recruited in 5 hospitals from August 2021 to February 2022. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. COREQ and SRQR reporting guidelines were applied.

resultsMost participants experienced an altered sexuality after CC treatment with often long-term loss/lack of sex drive, little/no spontaneity, limitation of positions to avoid dyspareunia, less intense orgasms, or no sexual activity at all. In some cases, emotional intimacy became more prominent. Physical (vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, menopausal symptoms) and psychological consequences (guilt, changed self-image) were at the root of the altered sexuality. Treatment-induced menopause reduced sex drive. In premenopausal patients, treatment and/or treatment-induced menopause resulted in the sudden elimination of family planning. Most participants highlighted the need to discuss their altered sexual experience with their partner to grow together toward a new interpretation of sexuality. To facilitate this discussion, most of the participants emphasized the need for greater partner involvement by healthcare providers (HPs). The oncology nurse or sexologist was the preferred HP with whom to discuss sexual health. The preferred timing for information about the sexual consequences of treatment was at treatment completion or during early follow-up.

conclusionBoth treatment-induced physical and psychological experiences were prominent and altered sexuality. Overall, there was a need for HPs to adopt proactive patient-tailored approaches to discuss sexual health.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsQualitative ResearchSexual HealthUterine Cervical NeoplasmsAdultAgedBelgiumFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMiddle AgedQuality of LifeSexual BehaviorSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalCervical cancerCommunicationPsychosexual supportQualitative researchSexual health

Identifiers

PMID38396183
OpenAlexW4392132678

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.