Are you talking to your patients about sex enough? Research suggests that most healthcare professionals aren’t having these conversations as often as patients would like.
Sexual health should be a core component of holistic patient care.
To shed light on this critical topic, our Host Rachael Babin is joined by Associate Professor Safeera Hussainy, Senior Pharmacy Research Manager at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia.
From lifestyle changes and psychosocial interventions to hormone replacement therapies, lubricants, and sexual aids, learn about the diverse approaches to enhancing sexual satisfaction and body image. Emphasizing the critical role healthcare professionals must play in addressing these topics to provide comprehensive care and break through the barriers of taboo and stigma.
With great resources and top tips on how to approach communications with patients and their partners about how treatment will impact sexuality.
Resources & Links:
Paper:
Sun K, Thao Dinh N, Lewin J, et al. A Scoping Review of Oncosexology Policy and Practice Tools Focused on Adolescents and Young Adults. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2024 Jun;13(3):389-443. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2023.0145. Epub 2024 Apr 2. PMID: 38563827. Access online here.
Tess Deveze Resources:
A Better Normal ebook series – separated into distinct topics recently as patients wanted to know about their area of need only.
Entire book here: A Better Normal: Your Guide to Rediscovering Intimacy After Cancer eBook : Devèze, Tess: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store
Guests + Host:
Associate Professor Safeera Hussainy
Safeera is Senior Pharmacy Research Manager at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, and Honorary Principal Fellow at University of Melbourne. Safeera is passionate about sexual and reproductive health and has been leading this area for the pharmacy profession for two decades, through her work as: Chief Investigator on SPHERE, an NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in women’s health; the MRFF ALLIANCE trial that aims to expand pharmacists’ scope of practice in contraceptive and abortion care service delivery; and emergency contraception guideline development, training and advocacy to remove barriers to access. Safeera is excited about her next research endeavour – to lead the co-design of a sexuality clinic for patients with cancer that will meet their unmet needs and improve quality of life. Bringing all of this together is Safeera’s expertise in education innovation and curriculum design that is required to assess health professionals’ learning needs and develop targeted training to upskill them. Related to this and in a separate clinical area is Safeera’s role as Education Lead for the MRFF PRECISION trial that involves the development and implementation of a pharmacogenomics education program for pharmacists.
Rachael Babin
Rachael Babin
Rachael Babin is Host of The Oncology Podcast, Editor-in-Chief of The Oncology Newsletter, and Publisher of Oncology News Australia and The Oncology Network.
With a background in oncology communications and academic publishing, Rachael is happiest sitting behind the mic chatting to interesting people about the impact their work makes in oncology.
Connect with us on X here: @OncologyNewsAus
