Men’s sexual help-seeking and care needs after radical prostatectomy or other non-hormonal, active prostate cancer treatments
Article
Article Title | Men’s sexual help-seeking and care needs after radical prostatectomy or other non-hormonal, active prostate cancer treatments |
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ERA Journal ID | 13803 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Hyde, Melissa K. (Author), Opozda, Melissa (Author), Laurie, Kirstyn (Author), Vincent, Andrew D. (Author), Oliffe, John L. (Author), Nelson, Christian J. (Author), Dunn, Jeff (Author), Chung, Eric (Author), Gillman, Michael (Author), Manecksha, Rustom P. (Author), Wittert, Gary (Author) and Chambers, Suzanne K. (Author) |
Journal Title | Supportive Care in Cancer |
Journal Citation | 29 (5), pp. 2699-2711 |
Number of Pages | 13 |
Year | 2021 |
Publisher | Springer |
Place of Publication | Germany |
ISSN | 0941-4355 |
1433-7339 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05775-5 |
Web Address (URL) | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-020-05775-5 |
Abstract | Objective: To examine prostate cancer (PCa) survivors’ sexual help-seeking intentions, behaviours, and unmet needs. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, men who underwent active, non-hormonal treatment completed baseline (N = 558) and 6-month follow-up (N = 387) questionnaires. Theory of planned behaviour (TPB) constructs (sexual help-seeking intention, perceived behavioural control (PBC), subjective norm, attitude), masculine values (e.g., sexual importance/priority, emotional self-reliance), sex life and functioning, sexual supportive care needs, distress (anxiety, depression), and sexual help-seeking behaviour were assessed. Results: Most men (M age = 64.6 years; M years post-diagnosis = 4.0) received prostatectomy (93%), reported severe erectile dysfunction (52%), ≥ 1 unmet sexual care need (66%), and sought help from a doctor (baseline 52%, follow-up 42%). Sexual care needs were significantly associated with poorer erectile function, reduced satisfaction with sex-life, valuing sex as important/integral to identity (masculine values), and increased depression (p ≤ 0.001). Sexual help-seeking intentions were significantly associated with valuing sex as important/integral to identity, recent help-seeking, greater confidence/control, perceiving support from important others, and positive attitudes, for sexual help-seeking (p < 0.001). Significant predictors of sexual help-seeking (follow-up) were baseline intentions, recent help-seeking (p < 0.001), and increased anxiety (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Men’s unmet sexual care needs, sexual help-seeking intentions, and behaviour appear driven by the importance/value attributed to sex, distress, positive feelings, support from others, and confidence for help-seeking. Psychosocial providers are well-placed to address men’s concerns, yet few sought their assistance. Interventions to improve men’s access to effective sexual care are needed, particularly focused on reframing masculine values about the importance of sex and leveraging TPB-based predictors of help-seeking. |
Keywords | Health service needs; Help-seeking behaviour; Longitudinal studies; Men; Prostate cancer; Sexuality |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 520304. Health psychology |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Queensland |
University of Adelaide | |
Griffith University | |
University of British Columbia, Canada | |
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States | |
Institute for Resilient Regions | |
St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, Australia | |
St James’s Hospital, Ireland | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q7qzy/men-s-sexual-help-seeking-and-care-needs-after-radical-prostatectomy-or-other-non-hormonal-active-prostate-cancer-treatments
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