Lynn Holmes and colleagues offer a competency framework to help nurses address psychosexual problems in patients with gynaecological cancers

Sexual problems are common after any cancer treatment, but particularly for gynaecological cancers. Sexuality is often a missed component of holistic assessment and continuing care after a cancer diagnosis.

Sexual difficulties can have a negative effect on quality of life and patients are often not prepared for possible changes, nor do they receive appropriate support to manage problems.

One reason for this is nurses’ or other healthcare professionals’ lack of confidence and knowledge to approach the subject. The National Forum of Gynaecological Oncology Nurses recognised the need to develop a competency framework to support healthcare workers to address the needs of women with psychosexual issues after diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological cancer.

This article offers an overview of the competencies and a framework of the knowledge, skills and experience needed to achieve them. Although it is aimed at gynae-oncology nurses, the principles can be transferred to any healthcare professional in any specialty.