Sexual health in cancer: the results of a survey exploring practices, attitudes, knowledge, communication, and professional interactions in oncology healthcare providers.

PURPOSE: To assess, focusing on population of healthcare professionals providing oncosexology care to men with cancer, clinical practice, attitudes, knowledge, communication, and professional interaction. METHODS: We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study with an online self-administered e-questionnaire addressed to all medical, paramedical, or administrative professionals attending the 4th "Cancer, Sexuality and Fertility" Meeting in Toulouse, France. Their participation was voluntary and totally anonymous. RESULTS: The 165 respondents comprised 44% of physicians, 47% of paramedics, and 9% of other health professionals in oncology, from all French regions. Paramedics were significantly younger than physicians (p = .006). One third of respondents were degreed in sexology, but 75.8% were in demand of oncosexology-specific trainings, particularly paramedics (p = .029). Regarding the oncosexology network, respondents declared being linked to organ specialists (56.8%), psychologists (49.5%), oncologists (47.4%), nurses (31.5%), radiation therapists (27.4%), and general practitioners (25.3%). Compared to paramedics, physicians were more likely to be engaged in oncosexology care (p = .039) and couple counseling (p = .005), but the proportions of counseled patients or couple were identical (p = .430 and p = .252, respectively). Overall, 90% of respondents reported discussing sexuality issues with patients. Regarding the time for discussion, physicians reported communicating more at cancer announcement (p = .004) or after treatments (p = .015), while more paramedics reported discussing at another time (p = .005). Regarding the place for discussion, paramedics more frequently reported talking about sexuality in the hospital room (p = .001) or during a specific consult (p = .007). CONCLUSIONS: Results emphasize various levels for improving existing oncosexology care, such as developing oncosexology-specific educational and practical training programs, particularly for paramedics; consolidating information, counseling, and therapeutic education with formal procedures like implementing medical and paramedical "oncosexology moments," or strengthening the community-hospital networks, from diagnosis to survivorship.