Centre of Diaconia and Professional Practice, VID Specialized University, Bergen, Norway.
Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
J Clin Nurs. 2024 Mar;33(3):1110-1121. doi: 10.1111/jocn.16923. Epub 2023 Nov 20.
Gynaecological cancer illness and treatment have a significant impact on women's sexual health and concerns regarding sexual health are known to be an unmet need in survivors. The digital support programme Gynea was designed to enhance women's health, including sexual health, after gynaecological cancer treatment. This study aimed to explore how cancer survivors experienced participation in Gynea.
This is a phenomenological hermeneutic study. Individual, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore lived experiences. Twenty women were interviewed after completing the Gynea programme. The transcripts were analysed using Lindseth and Norberg's phenomenological hermeneutic method.
Three main themes (with subthemes) emerged from the analysis: (1) A silent existential trauma; (2) Redefining sexual health; (3) Communicating with a partner about sexuality. The women redefined sexual health rather than just being sexual intercourse, being a rediscovery of the body. The women's increased awareness and understanding of their own sexual health empowered their communication about their sexuality with their partners. This was important for regaining sexual health and intimacy in their relationships.
Participation in Gynea helped to strengthen the women's sexual integrity. Knowledge and support empowered them to take care of their sexual needs and communicate these with their partners.
Healthcare services and nurses need to be aware that sexual health is an existential state of being, in which good sexual health does not necessarily equate to sexual function, but rather to sexual empowerment. Digital support with nurse guidance can support women in caring for their sexual health after cancer illness by thematizing sexual health with a holistic approach and should be part of the medical treatment.
Twenty gynaecological cancer survivors contributed by sharing their experiences from the sexual health module in Gynea.
妇科癌症疾病及其治疗对女性的性健康有重大影响，已知癌症幸存者存在性健康相关的未满足需求。数字支持计划 Gynea 的设计目的是增强女性在妇科癌症治疗后的健康，包括性健康。本研究旨在探讨癌症幸存者参与 Gynea 的体验。
这是一项现象学诠释学研究。采用个体深入的半结构化访谈来探索生活体验。在完成 Gynea 计划后，对 20 名女性进行了访谈。使用 Lindseth 和 Norberg 的现象学诠释学方法对转录本进行分析。
分析得出三个主要主题（带有子主题）：（1）沉默的存在性创伤；（2）重新定义性健康；（3）与伴侣沟通性问题。女性重新定义了性健康，而不仅仅是性行为，是对身体的重新发现。女性对自身性健康的认识和理解的提高，使她们能够与伴侣就自身的性问题进行沟通。这对于在关系中恢复性健康和亲密关系至关重要。
参与 Gynea 有助于增强女性的性完整性。知识和支持使她们有能力照顾自己的性需求，并与伴侣进行沟通。
医疗服务和护士需要意识到性健康是一种存在状态，良好的性健康不一定等同于性功能，而是性赋权。在护士指导下提供数字支持，可以通过整体方法主题化性健康来帮助女性在癌症疾病后照顾自己的性健康，并且应该成为治疗的一部分。
20 名妇科癌症幸存者通过分享他们在 Gynea 的性健康模块中的经验做出了贡献。
