Asian Oncol Nurs.  2021 Dec;21(4):221-230. 10.5388/aon.2021.21.4.221.

Unmet Needs and Sexual Distress of Gynecological Cancer Patients according to the Period after Initial Treatment

• Bae YH
• Park JS

• KMID: 2523660
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2021.21.4.221

Abstract

Purpose
This study was conducted to investigate unmet needs and sexual distress of gynecological cancer patients according to the period following immediately, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after initial treatment.
Methods
The study design was a cross-sectional comparative study, and the data collection was done from April to December 2020. The study subjects comprised a total of 212 gynecological cancer patients. The 212 subjects were grouped and evaluated as follows: 41 in immediately, 38 in 6 months, 46 in 12 months, 43 in 18 months, and 44 in 24 months after initial treatment.
Results
There was a significant difference between the groups of five periods after initial treatment in the unmet needs of the subjects. As a result of post-hoc test, the unmet needs were significantly higher after 6 months than after 12, 18, and 24 months. There was a significant difference between the groups of five periods after initial treatment in sexual distress, and sexual distress after 6 months was the highest.
Conclusion
In this study, it was found that the unmet needs and sexual distress at the time of 6 months after initial treatment in gynecological cancer patients were high. In particular, nursing interventions, such as patient teaching and counseling are necessary for gynecological cancer patients who have reached 6 months after initial treatment.

Keyword

Gynecological cancer; Initial treatment; Survivorship; Unmet needs; Sexual distress