Nursing interventions boost sexual QoL of breast cancer patients

Nursing interventions such as psychological and educational assistance help improve the sexual quality of life (QoL) among patients with breast cancer, reports a recent study.

Drawing from 11 online repositories, the present meta-analysis included 38 studies corresponding to a pooled sample of 3,664 participants. Twenty-one studies (63.6 percent) were deemed to have high risk for performance bias as they were not able to blind participants and interveners due to the nature of the intervention.

Funnel plots demonstrated that analysis for sexual function did not show publication bias, while such bias may be present for sexual satisfaction.

Pooled analysis revealed that nursing interventions were indeed significantly beneficial for sexual quality of life in breast cancer patients. This included sexual function (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.98, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.60–1.37; p<0.001) and sexual satisfaction (SMD, 0.99, 95 percent CI, 0.41–1.57; p<0.001).

Moreover, general quality of life was higher (SMD, 0.20, 95 percent CI, 0.08–0.33; p=0.002) and depression was lower (SMD, –1.16, 95 percent CI, –2.08 to –0.24; p=0.01) in those receiving nursing interventions.

In contrast, no significant impacts were reported for anxiety (SMD, –0.45, 95 percent CI, –0.93 to 0.02; p=0.06) and body image (SMD, 0.17, 95 percent CI, –0.08 to 0.41; p=0.19).

“More well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the optimal duration and type of nursing interventions in sexual health care,” the researchers said. “Professional training in sexual health for nurses should also be on the agenda.”