Feasibility of a Sexual Health Clinic Within Cancer Care: A Pilot Study Using Qualitative Methods.

BACKGROUND: As cancer survival rates increase, so does the imperative for a satisfying quality of life, including a fulfilling sexual life. OBJECTIVE: The feasibility and effectiveness of a newly formed Sexual Health Clinic were determined using a nurse-led format, which provided support to survivors in a cancer care setting. METHODS: Twenty-one cancer survivors received assessment, education, and tailored sexual health support by an oncology nurse with specialized skills in sexual health. Two months later, semistructured interviews focused on patients' personal experiences. Questionnaires were also administered to healthcare providers involved in providing the follow-up care. RESULTS: Participants presented with sexual concerns that were psychological, physical, and/or relational. Scores on validated measures of sexual functioning were in the range comparable to those with a sexual dysfunction. Participants were open to being asked about sexual health and wanted professionals available who were skilled in dealing with sexual health services. Most participants experienced an improvement in their well-being and/or sexual life following participation. Some noted more confidence when speaking with their partner about sexual concerns. CONCLUSION: Our pilot Sexual Health Clinic was feasible, and evidence for its effectiveness was based on qualitative feedback. Participants and providers identified a strong need for the inclusion of sexual health services in cancer care. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Oncology nurses are in a key position to initiate discussions surrounding sexual health issues related to cancer treatment. Self-awareness, sensitivity, and a nonjudgmental approach are required to address this dimension of holistic cancer care.

The Male Face of Caregiving: A Scoping Review of Men Caring for a Person With Dementia.

The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the empirical evidence published since 2007 on men as family caregivers of persons with dementia. Searches were conducted on Academic Search Complete, Ageline, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsychINFO, Social Work Abstracts, and Web of Science using database-specific controlled (i.e., MeSH terms) vocabulary related to dementia, men, and caregiving. Studies published in English between 2007 and 2012 that provided evidence of the experiences of male family caregivers of persons with dementia were included in the review. A total of 30 articles were selected for inclusion. Studies were grouped into three major themes for review: men's experiences of caregiving, relational factors, and outcomes of caregiving. The reviewed studies build on and support previous findings related to stress, burden, accessing services, and the importance of relational factors to men's caregiving experiences. However, there is a need for a framework that explains these findings in relation to masculinities. Such a framework would provide the necessary unifying context for a more powerful explanatory account. Furthermore, there appears to be the potential for great benefit in fully linking men's caregiver research to men's health issues as a means to articulate strategies to sustain the health and well-being of men caregivers. This seems especially relevant in light of the closing gender gap in life expectancy, which will ultimately see many men providing direct care to their partners.

Measurement error and detectable change for the modified Fresno Test in first-year entry-level physical therapy students.

Teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) skills is a core component in the education of health care professionals. Methods to assess individual student development of these skills are not well studied. The purpose of this study was to estimate the standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) for the modified Fresno Test (MFT) of Competence in EBP in first-year physical therapy students. Using a test-retest design, the MFT was administered two times to 35 participating first-year physical therapy students. Tests were scored by two trained physical therapist educators. Mean test scores clustered near the middle of the 232 point scoring range, 107 points (SD 14.9) and 103 points (SD 18.9). Inter-rater reliability [ICC (2, 1)] for scorers was 0.83 (95%CI 0.74-0.96). Intra-rater reliability was 0.85 (95%CI 0.60-0.97) and 0.94 (95%CI 0.86-0.99). Test-retest reliability [ICC (2, 1)] was 0.46 (95%CI 0.16-0.69), with a calculated SEM of 11 points, a confidence in a single measurement of 18.2 points, and MDC90 (90% confidence) of 25.7 points. Knowledge about estimates of SEM and MDC for specific student populations is important to assess change in individual student performance on the modified FT.