‘It’s everybody’s business’: a multi-method study to co-develop and evaluate a web-based interprofessional Sexual Function Intimacy Concerns after Cancer educational programme (SexFICC) to upskill cancer healthcare providers
10 affiliations
- 1Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Cancer Care Research Unit, The University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 2The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, and Cancer Council NSW 2006, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 3Department of Nursing, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- 4University of Melbourne Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- 5Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 6Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 7Sydney Medical Program, General Practice Clinical School, The University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 8Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- 9Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- 10Movember Institute of Men’s Health, Movember Foundation, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Abstract
Introduction: With improved survival rates, there is a growing population of cancer survivors who experience sexual health concerns following cancer treatment. These are widely recognised sequelae of cancer and cancer treatment, negatively impacting intimate relationships and quality of life. At least 40% (up to 100%) of people affected by cancer report concerns in this area. However, despite being well documented long-term challenges, they remain largely unaddressed by healthcare teams leading to further deterioration in sexual health. Healthcare providers identify this as an important quality of life issue; however, this does not translate into action. Barriers identified by healthcare providers include lack of knowledge, comfort and confidence, misconception of limited interventions and referral pathways available, and considerations regarding how to raise and discuss this topic. Coordinated systematic approaches for assessment and management of SFI concerns are lacking. The SexFICC Programme will address these gaps. SexFICC is an educational programme designed to improve sexual health outcomes in people affected by cancer by upskilling the cancer workforce in detecting and managing these issues throughout the cancer experience. No such training currently exists in the Australian context.
Methods and analysis: A multi-phase mixed-methods design will be employed. Through co-design with key stakeholders (anticipated n=40), we will co-develop, user test (n=10 participants), evaluate (minimum n=50) and disseminate a clinically integrated education programme aimed at increasing knowledge, confidence and skills in addressing sexual health concerns with anticipated positive changes on practice. The programme will include an educational course and practical evidence-based resources for cancer healthcare providers and approaches to address sexual health unmet needs in all people affected by cancer, with a unique focus on identified priority populations. This programme is informed by overwhelming evidence demonstrating major gaps in health services designed for detecting and managing sexual health-related issues; priorities for people affected by cancer, healthcare providers and policy makers.
Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Sydney Human Ethics Committee (Study Protocol #2025/HE001690). Results will be published in appropriate peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences, disseminated to participants in the form of a plain language summary and widely disseminated to consumer and professional stakeholders.
Related
- Interprofessional education for oral-systemic preventive care in older adults: evaluation of a nursing–dental educational session
- Training community providers in prolonged exposure: outcomes of a French consultation programme.
- Healthcare providers’ confidence, satisfaction, and perceived preparedness following a multicomponent simulation-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation training program in Gaza
- Importance-performance gap analysis of health service quality in conflict-affected Yemen: a cross-sectional facility-based survey of patients’ and healthcare providers’ perspectives
- Communication practices and challenges of healthcare providers in febrile seizure counseling : A cross-sectional study
BibTeX
@article{rutherford2026everybodys,
title = {{‘It’s everybody’s business’: a multi-method study to co-develop and evaluate a web-based interprofessional Sexual Function Intimacy Concerns after Cancer educational programme (SexFICC) to upskill cancer healthcare providers}},
author = {Claudia Rutherford and Mary Hayes and Sharon De Graves and Jacqueline G Bloomfield and Horas Wong and Linda Taoube and Shannon Philp and Tamara Power and Kathe Holmes and Kyleigh Smith and Michelle Barrett and Donna Cowan and Sarah Weller and Kate White},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121117},
url = {https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121117},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - ‘It’s everybody’s business’: a multi-method study to co-develop and evaluate a web-based interprofessional Sexual Function Intimacy Concerns after Cancer educational programme (SexFICC) to upskill cancer healthcare providers
AU - Claudia Rutherford
AU - Mary Hayes
AU - Sharon De Graves
AU - Jacqueline G Bloomfield
AU - Horas Wong
AU - Linda Taoube
AU - Shannon Philp
AU - Tamara Power
AU - Kathe Holmes
AU - Kyleigh Smith
AU - Michelle Barrett
AU - Donna Cowan
AU - Sarah Weller
AU - Kate White
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - BMJ Open
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121117
UR - https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121117
AB - Introduction: With improved survival rates, there is a growing population of cancer survivors who experience sexual health concerns following cancer treatment. These are widely recognised sequelae of cancer and cancer treatment, negatively impacting intimate relationships and quality of life. At least 40% (up to 100%) of people affected by cancer report concerns in this area. However, despite being well documented long-term challenges, they remain largely unaddressed by healthcare teams leading to further deterioration in sexual health. Healthcare providers identify this as an important quality of life issue; however, this does not translate into action. Barriers identified by healthcare providers include lack of knowledge, comfort and confidence, misconception of limited interventions and referral pathways available, and considerations regarding how to raise and discuss this topic. Coordinated systematic approaches for assessment and management of SFI concerns are lacking. The SexFICC Programme will address these gaps. SexFICC is an educational programme designed to improve sexual health outcomes in people affected by cancer by upskilling the cancer workforce in detecting and managing these issues throughout the cancer experience. No such training currently exists in the Australian context. Methods and analysis: A multi-phase mixed-methods design will be employed. Through co-design with key stakeholders (anticipated n=40), we will co-develop, user test (n=10 participants), evaluate (minimum n=50) and disseminate a clinically integrated education programme aimed at increasing knowledge, confidence and skills in addressing sexual health concerns with anticipated positive changes on practice. The programme will include an educational course and practical evidence-based resources for cancer healthcare providers and approaches to address sexual health unmet needs in all people affected by cancer, with a unique focus on identified priority populations. This programme is informed by overwhelming evidence demonstrating major gaps in health services designed for detecting and managing sexual health-related issues; priorities for people affected by cancer, healthcare providers and policy makers. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Sydney Human Ethics Committee (Study Protocol #2025/HE001690). Results will be published in appropriate peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences, disseminated to participants in the form of a plain language summary and widely disseminated to consumer and professional stakeholders.
SN - 2044-6055
SN - 2044-6055
ER -