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Men's Experiences of Sex and Intimacy After Prostate Cancer Treatment in China: a Qualitative Study

Overview
Journal Support Care Cancer
Specialties Critical Care
Oncology
Date 2021 Dec 2
PMID 34853913
Citations 6
Authors
Tong Wang
Hui-Lin Cheng
Ping Kit Kitty Wong
Wen Dong
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Purpose: While the existing knowledge base on the impact of prostate cancer (PC) and its treatment on sexuality and intimacy has been generated from Western populations, there is a lack of such evidence in the Asian context. This study aimed to explore men's experiences of sex and intimacy after PC treatment in China.

Methods: This study adopted an interpretive descriptive design. Using purposive sampling, 13 PC patients were selected from a urology outpatient unit of a hospital in South China and proceeded with individual semi-structured telephone interviews. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and analyzed using constant comparison analysis.

Results: Four themes emerged from the interview data, including (a) encountering altered sexuality, (b) communication and sexual adjustments, (c) maintenance of quality intimate relationship, and (d) lack of sexual health support.

Conclusions: The findings revealed that PC treatment significantly impaired patients' sexual functions, and their sexual health needs were mainly unmet by healthcare providers. There is a great need to design culturally relevant interventions to improve sexual health among this population.

Citing Articles

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Mumuni S, ODonnell C, Doody O Healthcare (Basel). 2024; 12(15).

PMID: 39120193 PMC: 11311449. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12151490.

Enhancing care: evaluating the impact of True North Sexual Health and Rehabilitation eTraining for healthcare providers working with prostate cancer patients and partners.

Matthew A, McLeod D, Robinson J, Walker L, Wassersug R, Elliott S Sex Med. 2024; 12(3):qfae033.

PMID: 38883808 PMC: 11176973. DOI: 10.1093/sexmed/qfae033.

Qualitative exploration of sexual dysfunction and associated coping strategies among Iranian prostate cancer survivors.

Mardani A, Ashghali Farahani M, Khachian A, Maleki M, Vaismoradi M Support Care Cancer. 2024; 32(6):360.

PMID: 38753060 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08548-6.

Sexual experiences and information needs among patients with prostate cancer: a qualitative study.

Haining Z, Xiaoli Z, Jiping Z, Beibei Z, Ping M, Yunfei G Sex Med. 2024; 12(2):qfae019.

PMID: 38596664 PMC: 11002319. DOI: 10.1093/sexmed/qfae019.

Sexual Behaviors and Intimate Relationships of Sexual Partners of Young Patients with Early-Stage Cervical Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

Li M, Wang D, Huang J, Luan S, Wang Q Int J Gen Med. 2023; 16:5377-5387.

PMID: 38021052 PMC: 10674558. DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S437150.

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