Congress Abstracts 2004

49

CONDUCTING SEXUALITY ASSESSMENTS OF ONCOLOGY PATIENTS: A SEXUALITY AND CANCER WORKSHOP FOR NURSES. Coni Ellis, RN, MS, C, OCN^®, CWOCN, JoAnn Mick, RN, MSN, MBA, AOCN^®, and Marlene Z. Cohen, RN, PhD, FAAN, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.

The Oncology Nursing Society and American Nurses’ Association Statement on the Scope and Standards of Oncology Nursing Practice (2001) includes assessment of sexuality to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer. Standards of care and standards of professional performance include assessment of sexuality to identify the effects of cancer and cancer treatment on body image, sexual function, psychosocial responses, and past and present sexual patterns and function. Nursing diagnoses and outcomes measurements include nurses’ responsibility to identify actual or potential changes in sexuality or sexual function related to cancer and cancer treatment.

Gamel (1993) identified that nurses often do not offer specific teaching, supporting, and counseling interventions to manage the effects of cancer and cancer treatments on sexuality. Wilson and Williams’ (1988) study discussion identified that the integration of nursing interventions concerning an oncology patient’s alterations in sexuality into a plan of care was affected by nurses’ attitudes toward sexuality. An identified serious consequence of the absence of sexuality in nursing care was the resulting neglect of sexual concerns of patients that were caused by their cancer treatment and associated toxicities.

A workgroup was formed to develop and implement a sexuality and cancer workshop for nurses at our organization. Course objectives included discussion of purposes of sexuality assessments, how to banish barriers of sexuality assessment, and identification of tools available to conduct a sexuality assessment, develop interventions, and increase the use of sexuality assessment tools. Topics included the concept of sexuality, barriers of sexuality, sexuality assessment models, diversity, psychosocial and spiritual components of sexuality, effects of cancer treatments on quality of life, cancer, sexuality, and quality of life. Classes are limited to 10 attendees to provide the opportunity to comfortably discuss individual attitudes and behaviors related to sexuality assessment and to explore the identified barriers in group discussions.

The course will be offered quarterly and research is in progress to evaluate the courses’ impact on nursing practice.

Our poster will share course content so that other organizations may use the program to improve nursing assessment of sexuality concerns of oncology patients.