Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Support Care Cancer. 2010 Jul;18(7):785-800. doi: 10.1007/s00520-010-0819-8. Epub 2010 Feb 18.
Although cancer treatment commonly has a negative impact on sexual functioning, sexual concerns are still largely undertreated in routine cancer care. The medical model that guides current approaches to sexual care in cancer does not adequately address key patient needs.
In this paper, we describe a broader approach to understanding and treating sexual concerns in cancer that focuses on the construct of flexibility in behavioral and cognitive coping strategies. We previously presented this model in the context of general medical conditions. We now adapt this model to the context of cancer, focusing on issues related to the benefits of flexible coping, interventions that shift perspectives following cancer, and on coping as a couple.
We argue that coping flexibly with sexual concerns is likely to lead to improvements in mood and sexual and relationship satisfaction. We present clinical applications of the flexible coping model, including suggestions for assessment and sexual concerns and methods of introducing flexible coping into both the content and process of clinical interactions with patients.
Finally, we discuss areas for future research, including the development of a validated instrument, the use of electronic methods of assessment, and intervention trials directly addressing flexibility in coping.
尽管癌症治疗通常会对性功能产生负面影响,但在常规癌症护理中,性问题仍然在很大程度上未得到充分治疗。指导当前癌症性护理方法的医学模式不能充分满足关键患者需求。
在本文中,我们描述了一种更广泛的理解和治疗癌症中性问题的方法,该方法侧重于行为和认知应对策略的灵活性构建。我们之前在一般医疗条件的背景下介绍了该模型。我们现在将该模型应用于癌症的背景下,重点关注与灵活应对的益处、癌症后改变观点的干预措施以及作为伴侣的应对相关的问题。
我们认为灵活应对性问题可能会改善情绪以及性和关系满意度。我们提出了灵活应对模型的临床应用,包括对性问题和评估的建议,以及将灵活应对纳入与患者进行临床互动的内容和过程的方法。
最后,我们讨论了未来研究的领域,包括验证工具的开发、电子评估方法的使用以及直接解决应对灵活性的干预试验。