Klinik Kesihatan Tandek, Kota Murudu, 89059, Sabah, Malaysia.
Management and Science University, MSU Learning Resource Centre, PT 209 & 210, Jalan Pengkalan Chepa, 15400, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Support Care Cancer. 2024 Jul 20;32(8):531. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08741-7.
Experiencing sexual dysfunction (SD) alongside a breast cancer (BC) diagnosis has significant consequences, not only for wives but also for their husbands. Therefore, we explored husbands' perspectives on sexuality and their encounters in dealing with wives' SD following a BC diagnosis.
This qualitative study, conducted within the phenomenological framework, focused on sexually active husbands whose wives faced SD after being diagnosed with BC in Kelantan. Husbands with an International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score above 11, indicating the absence of erectile dysfunction, were invited to participate in in-depth interviews conducted between September 2019 and March 2021. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, and the transcriptions were then managed and analyzed using the NVivo® analytic computer software. Thematic analyses were performed, taking into account the meaning-making theory.
To grasp husbands' experiences, three themes emerged. "Sex, a calming act," delves into their understanding of sexuality and its impact severity. "Distressing sequelae yet provide better tolerance" underscores that husbands experienced adverse consequences due to their wives' imperfections and sexual challenges, but they exhibited improved tolerance in dealing with these difficulties. Lastly, "Improving lives with multiple strategies" highlights how husbands sought alternative activities in response.
This study illuminates the experiences of husbands coping with their wives' SD following a BC diagnosis. Husbands had to reconsider their understanding of sexuality and sexual needs and employed various response and coping strategies. These strategies included emphasizing influences of culture (husbands' roles and rights), religious beliefs, and self-distraction, redirecting the focus to health concerns, and engaging in alternative activities.
乳腺癌（BC）诊断伴随性功能障碍（SD）会对患者及其配偶产生重大影响。因此，我们探讨了丈夫对性的看法，以及在妻子 BC 诊断后出现 SD 时他们所面临的问题。
这是一项在现象学框架内进行的定性研究，研究对象为吉兰丹州性活跃的丈夫，其妻子在被诊断为 BC 后出现 SD。邀请 IIEF-5 评分高于 11 分（表明不存在勃起功能障碍）的丈夫参加 2019 年 9 月至 2021 年 3 月之间进行的深度访谈。访谈进行了录音并逐字记录，然后使用 NVivo®分析计算机软件对转录本进行管理和分析。考虑到意义建构理论，进行了主题分析。
为了理解丈夫的经历，出现了三个主题。“性，一种平静的行为”深入探讨了他们对性的理解及其影响的严重程度。“痛苦的后遗症，但提供更好的容忍”强调了丈夫因妻子的不完美和性挑战而经历的不良后果，但他们在处理这些困难时表现出了更好的容忍。最后，“用多种策略改善生活”突出了丈夫寻求替代活动的情况。
这项研究阐明了丈夫在妻子 BC 诊断后应对 SD 的经历。丈夫不得不重新考虑他们对性和性需求的理解，并采用了各种应对和应对策略。这些策略包括强调文化（丈夫的角色和权利）、宗教信仰和自我转移的影响，将重点转移到健康问题上，并参与替代活动。
