Oral Presentation Cancer Survivorship 2019

Despite acknowledgement of the importance of intimacy on well-being and extensive research in the cancer setting over the past decade or more, we know that most health professionals and patients struggle to communicate about intimacy. This session aims to give participants practical skills and strategies to address intimacy and sexual functioning in clinical practice.  Topics covered will include:

• the importance of communication between the health professional and patient;
• strategies for enhancing skills, improving comfort levels and reducing barriers to care;
• finding opportunities for the discussion of intimacy: when and how to raise the topic for those with and without partners;
• a model for assessment and intervention/referral;
• suggestions of phrases to assess functioning across the continuum of care;
• key “top tips” for addressing common concerns with desire and functioning (eg. navigating changes to one’s body including psychological, hormonal and menopausal changes, erectile, anatomical and functional changes, managing intimacy in the context of fatigue and pain); and
• developing referral skills and networks as part of good practice.

Health professionals do not need to offer “sexual counselling” to all patients, but we do need to offer a basic assessment of needs to triage to appropriate care services.  The presentation aims to offer validation and confidence in the application of communication skills refined in other areas of clinical practice to this important area of care.   We hope to encourage a positive awareness of interventions to improve care delivery and help this become a rewarding area of clinical practice.