TY - JOUR
T1 - Genitourinary symptoms in breast cancer survivors
T2 - Prevalence, correlates, and relationship with sexual functioning
AU - Sheng, Ying
AU - Carpenter, Janet S.
AU - Cohee, Andrea A.
AU - Storey, Susan
AU - Stump, Timothy E.
AU - Monahan, Patrick O.
AU - Cella, David
AU - Champion, Victoria L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The data used in this article are from a study that was coordinated by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group–American College of Radiology Imaging Network Cancer Research Group (group co-chairs: Robert L. Comis, MD, and Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD) and was supported, in part, by public health service grants (CA189828, CA180795, CA37403, CA35199, CA17145 and CA49883) from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sheng is supported as a postdoctoral fellow under 5T32CA117865 (principal investigator [PI]: V. Champion), Cohee is supported by the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute KL2 Program (UL1TR002529; PI: A. Shekhar), and Storey is supported by a research grant (RE01) from the Oncology Nursing Foundation.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Oncology Nursing Society. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/3
Y1 - 2021/3
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate (a) the prevalence of genitourinary symptoms, (b) which demographic and clinical factors predict genitourinary symptoms, and (c) the association between genitourinary symptoms and sexual functioning in breast cancer survivors. SAMPLE & SETTING: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional, patient-reported outcomes data from 1,085 breast cancer survivors was conducted. METHODS & VARIABLES: Prevalence and correlations with demographics, clinical factors, and sexual functioning were identified using descriptive analysis, multivariable logistic regression analysis, chi-square tests, t tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Symptoms included vaginal/vulvar irritation, pelvic discomfort, problems with urinary control, vaginal infection, and vaginal bleeding. Younger age, more comorbidities, and taking treatment for menopausal symptoms were significantly related to reporting genitourinary symptoms. Experiencing more symptoms was associated with lower sexual functioning. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: The prevalence, correlates, and relationship of genitourinary symptoms with sexual functioning supports the assessment and treatment of these symptoms as part of routine care for breast cancer survivors.
AB - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate (a) the prevalence of genitourinary symptoms, (b) which demographic and clinical factors predict genitourinary symptoms, and (c) the association between genitourinary symptoms and sexual functioning in breast cancer survivors. SAMPLE & SETTING: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional, patient-reported outcomes data from 1,085 breast cancer survivors was conducted. METHODS & VARIABLES: Prevalence and correlations with demographics, clinical factors, and sexual functioning were identified using descriptive analysis, multivariable logistic regression analysis, chi-square tests, t tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Symptoms included vaginal/vulvar irritation, pelvic discomfort, problems with urinary control, vaginal infection, and vaginal bleeding. Younger age, more comorbidities, and taking treatment for menopausal symptoms were significantly related to reporting genitourinary symptoms. Experiencing more symptoms was associated with lower sexual functioning. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: The prevalence, correlates, and relationship of genitourinary symptoms with sexual functioning supports the assessment and treatment of these symptoms as part of routine care for breast cancer survivors.
KW - Breast cancer survivors
KW - Genitourinary symptoms
KW - Sexual functioning
KW - Vaginal atrophy
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U2 - 10.1188/21.ONF.229-241
DO - 10.1188/21.ONF.229-241
M3 - Article
C2 - 33600393
AN - SCOPUS:85101747943
VL - 48
SP - 229
EP - 241
JO - Oncology Nursing Forum
JF - Oncology Nursing Forum
SN - 0190-535X
IS - 2
ER -
