Enhancing sexual health in primary care: Guidance for practitioners.

Sexual health is an integral aspect of overall health and well-being and is fundamental to the sustainable development of societies worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexual health as 'a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality'. However, addressing sexual health has been afforded low priority in primary healthcare systems. Primary care practitioners (PCPs), who play a crucial role in providing comprehensive care to communities, receive little training on screening and managing individuals with sexual health problems. The scope of services ranges from education, prevention and screening, to management of sexual health matters. Patients with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as stroke, cancer, heart disease and diabetes, are at increased risk for sexual dysfunction, possibly because of common pathogenetic mechanisms, such as inflammation. This is of considerable importance in the sub-Saharan African context where there is a rapidly increasing prevalence of NCDs, as well as a high burden of HIV. Strategies to improve the quality of sexual health services in primary care include creating a safe and non-judgemental practice environment for history-taking among gender-diverse populations, utilising effective screening tools aligned with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for sexual dysfunctions. In particular, the International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM -5) diagnostic and treatment algorithm can empower primary care providers to effectively address sexual dysfunctions among patients and improve the quality of care provided to communities regarding sexual and reproductive health.

Management of Psychosocial and Sexual Complains Among Cancer Patients in the African Context: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of specialised psychosocial and sexual therapies for cancer patients in the African context. AIM: This paper aims to highlight gaps in capacities of health care providers to address psychosocial and sexual needs of patients suffering from cancer disease, develop and share the proposed algorithm of psychosocial and sexual care management in the African context. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of literature that highlights the psychosocial and sexual complications associated with cancer disease and its management, especially in the African context. A systematic search of bibliographic databases and websites including BioMed Central, PubMed Central, Taylor and Francis Online, Wiley online Library, EBSCOHOST databases using appropriate keywords on management of cancer in Africa was conducted between January 1, 2000 to March 31, 2021, using search words: 'cancer; cancer treatment; 'cancer management'; 'cancer complications'; 'psychosocial and sexual complications of cancer'. Identified publications were screened against selection criteria following the PRISMA guidelines. OUTCOMES: Characteristics or psycho-social and sexual outcomes of cancer were examined and associated management charted in an excel framework with the 6 studies that met the eligibility criteria. RESULTS: A total of 6 studies were retrieved that met the eligibility criteria. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: There is need to strengthen capacities of health care providers in the African health care system regarding the management of psychosocial and sexual complications associated with cancer disease. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The study's utilised a rapid scoping review approach that aimed to shed some light regarding the gaps in cancer management, while also providing a much-needed solution to care for cancer survivors in the African context. CONCLUSIONS: The study proposes a psychosocial and sexual algorithm of care to be utilised by health care providers for the management of psychosexual complications associated with cancer disease. The algorithm can assist and facilitate the integration of psychosocial and sexual cancer programs into existing health care services in primary health care facilities making it accessible to most patients. Ramlachan P, Tammary E, Joachim O, et al. Management of Psychosocial and Sexual Complains Among Cancer Patients in the African Context: A scoping review. Sex Med 2022;10:100494.

Randomized, comparative, double-blind, double-dummy, multicenter trial of miconazole buccal tablet and clotrimazole troches for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis: study of miconazole Lauriad® efficacy and safety (SMiLES).

BACKGROUND: Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is the most common opportunistic infection among persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Once-daily miconazole 50 mg buccal tablet (MBT) is a novel delivery system using an extended-spectrum azole with potent in vitro activity against many Candida species, including some that may be resistant to other azoles. METHODS: This phase 3, double-blind, double-dummy, multicenter trial evaluated 578 randomized patients with HIV infection and OPC. The study compared the efficacy and safety of MBT once daily with clotrimazole 10 mg troches (CT) 5 times daily for 14 days. The co-primary efficacy endpoints were clinical cure at test of cure (TOC) visit (days 17-22) in the intent-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) populations. RESULTS: Clinical cure rate at TOC visit for MBT-treated patients was statistically noninferior to CT-treated patients in both the ITT (61% vs 65%) and PP (68% vs 74%) populations. Secondary endpoints, safety, and tolerability were similar between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this large trial, once-daily MBT was shown to be noninferior to CT 5 times daily in the treatment of OPC in HIV-positive patients. MBT offers an effective, safe, and well-tolerated topical treatment option for OPC administered as a convenient once-daily dose.