While many Danish oncology and hematology nurses report feeling comfortable discussing sexual health, significant barriers remain, and training and access to relevant resources are associated with greater perceived preparedness.
Key Findings
Results
A substantial proportion of Danish oncology nurses felt only partially comfortable addressing sexual health issues with patients.
538 nurses completed the nationwide cross-sectional survey conducted June–August 2024
37.8% felt comfortable, to some extent, about informing patients about sexual health issues
44.1% felt comfortable, to some extent, about initiating sexual health discussions
45% felt comfortable, to some extent, about discussing sexual health issues with patients
Approximately half of nurses (45.3%) reported they would not set aside time to deal with sexual health issues
Results
Knowledge about where to seek information on sexual health was significantly associated with higher overall positive attitudes toward addressing sexual health.
Association was statistically significant at p < 0.001
Measured using the validated Health Professionals' Attitudes Towards Addressing Sexual Health (PA-SH-D) questionnaire
The PA-SH-D questionnaire assessed attitudes across four domains: comfort, patient encounters, colleagues, and education
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression
Results
Participation in sexual health training in the past year was significantly associated with higher total PA-SH-D scores.
Association was statistically significant at p < 0.05
This finding suggests that recent education is linked to more positive attitudes toward addressing sexual health in practice
Training was identified as one of two key modifiable factors associated with improved attitudes
Results
Greater nursing seniority was positively associated with preparedness to address sexual health.
β = 0.18 per year of seniority, p < 0.05
Mean seniority of respondents was 18.8 years
Seniority was evaluated as a predictor within the linear regression analysis
Results
Cultural sensitivities, patient discomfort, and lack of time were frequently reported as barriers to addressing sexual health.
These barriers were identified through the cross-sectional survey of 538 cancer care nurses
The barriers were described as 'frequently addressed' by respondents
These findings align with barriers reported in prior literature on sexual health in oncology settings
Methods
The study sample was predominantly female with relatively high seniority, reflecting the demographic composition of Danish oncology nursing.
97.6% of respondents were female
Mean age of respondents was 45.9 years
Average seniority was 18.8 years
The survey was conducted nationwide among Danish registered nurses working in cancer care
Conclusions
The authors concluded that ongoing education and institutional support are critically needed to integrate sexual health as a standard component of oncology and hematology nursing care.
Despite many nurses reporting comfort with sexual health discussions, significant barriers persist
Training and resource access were identified as modifiable factors associated with better preparedness
The findings highlight a 'critical need for ongoing education and institutional support'
The study used the validated PA-SH-D questionnaire to provide a standardized assessment of attitudes
What This Means
This research surveyed 538 Danish nurses working in cancer care to understand their attitudes toward discussing sexual health with patients. Using a validated questionnaire, the study found that while many nurses reported feeling at least somewhat comfortable talking about sexual health, nearly half said they would not set aside dedicated time for these conversations. Common barriers included concerns about cultural sensitivities, perceptions that patients would be uncomfortable, and a lack of time in their clinical work.
The study also found that nurses who knew where to find information about sexual health and those who had participated in sexual health training in the past year had more positive attitudes overall. More experienced nurses also reported feeling better prepared to handle these conversations. These findings suggest that practical resources and targeted education can meaningfully improve nurses' confidence and willingness to address sexual health as part of routine cancer care.
This research suggests that sexual health remains an underprioritized aspect of cancer nursing, despite its known importance to patients' quality of life. The results point to a need for healthcare institutions to provide nurses with better training opportunities and clearer access to relevant resources, so that conversations about sexual health can become a standard — rather than exceptional — part of cancer care.
Mortensen L, Boisen L, Møller B, Nygaard L, Jørgensen A, Groth C, et al.. (2025). Nurses' attitudes toward addressing sexual health in their professional practice within cancer care: a Danish cross-sectional study.. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09969-7