Faculty Collaboration Database

Beyond barriers: fundamental 'disconnects' underlying the treatment of breast cancer patients' sexual health. Cult Health Sex 2014;16(9):1169-80

Date

08/21/2014

Pubmed ID

25138386

DOI

10.1080/13691058.2014.939227

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84907455253 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   29 Citations

Abstract

Sexual health concerns represent one of the most frequently experienced and longest-lasting effects of breast cancer treatment, but research suggests that service providers rarely discuss sexual health with their patients. Existing research examining barriers to addressing patients' sexual health concerns has focused on discrete characteristics of the provider-patient interaction without considering the broader context in which these interactions occur. Drawing on the experiences of 21 breast cancer survivors, this paper explores three ways in which fundamental cultural and structural characteristics of the cancer care system in the USA may prevent breast cancer survivors from addressing their sexual health concerns, including: (1) when patients discussed sexual health with their providers, their providers approached sexuality as primarily physical, while participants experienced complex, multidimensional sexual health concerns; (2) specialisation within cancer care services made it difficult for patients to identify the appropriate provider to address their concerns; and (3) the structure of cancer care literally disconnects patients from the healthcare system at the time when sexual side effects commonly emerged. These data suggest that addressing breast cancer survivors' sexual health concerns requires a multifaceted approach to health systems change.

Author List

Halley MC, May SG, Rendle KA, Frosch DL, Kurian AW

Author

Meghan C. Halley PhD, BA, MPH Assistant Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Breast Neoplasms
Dyspareunia
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Middle Aged
Qualitative Research
Reproductive Health
Sexual Partners
Sexuality
Survivors
United States