The effect of a clinical nurse specialist in gynaecological oncology on quality of life and sexuality

Abstract

Gynaecological malignancy has an immense impact on the well-being of women. For many women, however, treatment such as surgery is curative and healthcare intervention focuses on the physiological status of the women. The psychological, social and sexual consequences of the malignancy and its treatment have received little attention in research or in practice. The present study used a mixed quantitative and qualitative design to analyse a specialist nurse intervention (including psychosexual intervention), and to explain the impact of the illness on women's lives. The qualitative arm of the study collected interview data from 20 women and six partners. The randomized controlled trial sample consisted of 36 women, with data collected using a quality of life measure (the EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Lasry Sexual Functioning scale. This paper focuses on the randomized controlled trial data, which identified that sexual functioning and quality of life were improved in the active group who received specialist psychosexual counselling. However, the validity of the sexual functioning scale is challenged by the qualitative results of the study, which emphasize the social meaning of sexuality.