Care for sexual health in oncology survey: a regression analysis of variables associated with the likelihood of people with cancer having a sexual health discussion with the hospital cancer team.

Abstract

Purpose: Despite high levels of sexual dysfunction following cancer treatment, people with cancer report that sexual health is infrequently discussed during cancer care. Reasons for this infrequency have been identified in the qualitative literature. The purpose of this paper is to identify statistically significant barriers to, or facilitators of sexual health care identified by people with cancer. Methods: The care for sexual health in oncology survey (CaSHOS) was a cross-sectional, analytical, retrospective, online survey of people with cancer who had received treatment and follow-up care for any type of cancer in the UK during the previous 10 years. A convenience sample was recruited via UK cancer charities. A minimum sample size of 120 people with cancer was required. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted. Despite attempts to mitigate recall bias, this remained a limitation of this study. Results: Sexual activity worsened following cancer treatment for the majority of participants. Sixty-one per cent self-reported never having talked about their sexual health during their cancer care. Univariate analysis found little agreement with proposed barriers to care but more agreement with proposed facilitators of care. Bivariate/multivariate analyses found four statistically significant variables that decreased the likelihood of ever having talked to professionals about sexual health (two related to privacy in the hospital setting) and two that increased the likelihood (one related to being sexually active in the past year). Conclusions: Although few barriers to care for sexual health were identified, most of these related to organisational aspects of the hospital setting. Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT06074445; UK NIHR CRN Portfolio of Studies CPMS ID 52741.