Improving Sexual Well-Being Support for Men With Prostate Cancer: The Health Professional Perspective

Abstract

Purpose: The provision of evidenced-based sexual well-being support is considered a key metric of quality prostate cancer care. However, patients continually report high rates of unmet sexual health needs. To provide insight into the challenges healthcare professionals (HCPs) face in delivering sexual well-being support, we conducted a qualitative study.

Methods: HCPs were recruited via professional organisations/networks and snowballing. Interviews were semistructured, conducted via telephone/video and transcribed verbatim. Interviews explored work experience, sexual support provided, challenges faced and areas of prioritisation to improve care delivery. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The lack of representation from urologists and radiation oncologists was a limitation.

Results: Twenty-one HCPs were interviewed, including nurses, pharmacists, sexologists, a physiotherapist and an oncologist. Eight key themes were identified. Themes 1–5 describe the challenges faced by HCPs in providing sexual well-being support, such as logistical issues and reliance on other HCPs. The remaining three themes describe areas of change recommended by HCPs to improve delivery of support, including standardisation of penile rehabilitation guidelines, training for specialists and GPs and prioritisation of multidisciplinary sexual well-being support as part of routine care.

Conclusions: HCPs face several challenges in providing sexual well-being support to prostate cancer patients, which could be ameliorated through greater awareness and education about the importance of sexual well-being support and through standardising pathways and guidelines. Addressing challenges faced by HCPs in the delivery of sexual well-being support may ultimately improve patient experiences and reduce unmet sexual health needs following prostate cancer treatment.