Output details

Communication about sexuality and intimacy in oncology and palliative care: The patients perspective

This was the third in a series of projects in The Netherlands in the field of cancer and palliative care, the first two were funded by the provincial government and this was centrally funded. The first two projects both identified problems in communication and hence it was decided that a further project was needed to identify the reasons for the communication problems in sexuality and intimacy. This paper presented the findings from the first phase of the study. My role in all three projects was to help achieve funding by writing bids, and then lead and guide the research activities.

This research is about the concerns of oncology and palliative care patients and their partners regarding sexuality and intimacy and the communications they had had regarding these issues with health care professionals. The research also focuses on how oncology and palliative care professionals see their roles with regard to such personal issues. The full study will be published next year, but this paper focuses on the role of oncology nurses and approaches to extent their role and improve the care they offer in this field.