Factors Associated with Sexual Function in women with Breast Cancer after Chemotherapy

• Main Authors: Li-Yen Lee, 李麗燕
• Other Authors: Ping-Ling Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2002
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/45005574932923945759

碩士 === 台北醫學院 === 護理學研究所 === 90 === Abstract Tital of Thesis : Factors Associated with Sexual Function in Women with Breast Cancer after Chemotherapy Institution : Graduate Institute of Nursing , Taipei Medical University Author : Li-Yen Lee Thesis directed by : Ping-Ling Chen , Ph. D., MPH , Associate Professor The purpose of this study was to explore sexual functions and its related factors with breast cancer women who have their chemotherapy in two years. The comparisons were also made between them and the healthy women. The items studied include: demographics, disease characteristics, physical symptom distress, psychological distress, and social state. Case-control Study and Convenience Sampling were being used. Target patients were chosen from two area hospitals in Taipei; both from breast surgical outpatients and from pap’s smear women. A questionnaire was completed by 72 breast cancer patients and 72 healthy women in a private room in hospital. The conclusions were: 1. The sexual pleasure of breast cancer women was much lower than that of healthy women, and sexual distress was much higher. But after the adjustment of age, economic status, and menopause, this difference was not so meaningful statistically. Nevertheless, the frequency of sexual activity of breast cancer women was much less than that of healthy women, and 43% of the breast cancer women had changed their sexual habits dramatically. 2. There was obvious difference between the sexual habits and physical symptom distress of breast cancer women. And psychological distress and physical distress were mutually related. 3. The relationship between demographics and sexual pleasure of breast cancer women: sexual pleasure could be varied from different religious belief, main income resource, economic status, and time of treatment. 4. The relationship between demographics and sexual distress of breast cancer women: sexual distress could be related to age, reason of menopause, time period from first diagnosis, and time of treatment. And some suggestions were made accordingly as follow: 1. In nursing practice: the nursing personnel should be trained to have knee observation, and the ability to do the personal evaluation of the sexual function of the breast cancer patients. 2. In nursing education: more professional consultants should be educated and trained, especially in [sexual function of cancer patient], to take care of the patients more professionally. 3. In medical policy: a [female sexual consult center] should be established and conducted mainly by female nursing personnel in order to make a friendly atmosphere. Also, the prolongation of follow-up treatment to the breast cancer patients and community follow-up service were highly recommended. Key Words: Breast Cancer Women, Chemotherapy, Sexual Function