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Purpose <p>Sexual dysfunction is common after prostate radiotherapy, yet communication barriers remain unclear. This multinational study assessed radiation oncologists’ practices, attitudes, and sexual-health training.</p> Materials and methods <p>The International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group (IGRG) disseminated a 38-item cross-sectional survey to radiation oncologists across 17 countries. The instrument captured demographics, discussion frequencies, perceived barriers, referral patterns, and attitudes toward oncosexuality. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression. An exploratory sensitivity analysis restricted to respondents reporting regular management of patients receiving radiotherapy with potential impact on sexual health (≥ 1 such patient per month) was performed.</p> Results <p>Among 117 radiation oncologists, 87% (102/117) reported some clinical exposure to patients receiving radiotherapy with potential impact on sexual health, and 57% (67/117) reported regular exposure (≥ 1 patient per month). 48% reported that patients rarely initiated discussions, and 8% never addressed the topic. Main barriers were time (39%), competing oncologic priorities (35%), and embarrassment (26%); 60% felt discomfort with older patients. Multivariable analysis revealed a “training paradox”: clinicians with formal sexual-health training (56%) had significantly lower odds of initiating discussions at the first visit (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.15–0.94, <i>p</i> = 0.037) and higher odds of embarrassment with older patients (OR 5.72, 95% CI 2.09–15.65, <i>p</i> = 0.001), independent of age, gender, experience, and practice setting.</p> Conclusion <p>These findings suggest that awareness-focused sexual-health training alone may be insufficient; behaviourally anchored communication training and formal referral pathways are needed.</p>

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The training paradox in oncosexuality: a multinational survey on clinician attitudes, barriers, and sexual health communication in geriatric prostate cancer care

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月16日

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  • Gokoulakrichenane Loganadane,
  • Micaela Motta,
  • Nataniel H. Lester-Coll,
  • Michael Lock,
  • Gilles Colin,
  • Luciana Caravatta,
  • Kamel Debbi,
  • Pedro C. Lara,
  • Miguel Espíndola Sandoval,
  • Trinanjan Basu,
  • Claudia sangalli,
  • Shikha Goyal,
  • Osama M. Abd Elbadee,
  • Nadia Pasinetti,
  • Vincent Vinh-Hung,
  • Giuseppe luigi Banna,
  • Miguel Panades,
  • Mark D’Andrea,
  • Mattia F. Osti,
  • Nam P. Nguyen

摘要

Purpose

Sexual dysfunction is common after prostate radiotherapy, yet communication barriers remain unclear. This multinational study assessed radiation oncologists’ practices, attitudes, and sexual-health training.

Materials and methods

The International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group (IGRG) disseminated a 38-item cross-sectional survey to radiation oncologists across 17 countries. The instrument captured demographics, discussion frequencies, perceived barriers, referral patterns, and attitudes toward oncosexuality. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression. An exploratory sensitivity analysis restricted to respondents reporting regular management of patients receiving radiotherapy with potential impact on sexual health (≥ 1 such patient per month) was performed.

Results

Among 117 radiation oncologists, 87% (102/117) reported some clinical exposure to patients receiving radiotherapy with potential impact on sexual health, and 57% (67/117) reported regular exposure (≥ 1 patient per month). 48% reported that patients rarely initiated discussions, and 8% never addressed the topic. Main barriers were time (39%), competing oncologic priorities (35%), and embarrassment (26%); 60% felt discomfort with older patients. Multivariable analysis revealed a “training paradox”: clinicians with formal sexual-health training (56%) had significantly lower odds of initiating discussions at the first visit (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.15–0.94, p = 0.037) and higher odds of embarrassment with older patients (OR 5.72, 95% CI 2.09–15.65, p = 0.001), independent of age, gender, experience, and practice setting.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that awareness-focused sexual-health training alone may be insufficient; behaviourally anchored communication training and formal referral pathways are needed.