Unmet Needs and Sexual Distress of Gynecological Cancer Patients according to the Period after Initial Treatment

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#This study was conducted to investigate unmet needs and sexual distress of gynecological cancer patients according to the period following immediately, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after initial treatment. @*Methods@#The study design was a cross-sectional comparative study, and the data collection was done from April to December 2020. The study subjects comprised a total of 212 gynecological cancer patients. The 212 subjects were grouped and evaluated as follows 41 in immediately, 38 in 6 months, 46 in 12 months, 43 in 18 months, and 44 in 24 months after initial treatment. @*Results@#There was a significant difference between the groups of five periods after initial treatment in the unmet needs of the subjects. As a result of post-hoc test, the unmet needs were significantly higher after 6 months than after 12, 18, and 24 months. There was a significant difference between the groups of five periods after initial treatment in sexual distress, and sexual distress after 6 months was the highest. @*Conclusion@#In this study, it was found that the unmet needs and sexual distress at the time of 6 months after initial treatment in gynecological cancer patients were high. In particular, nursing interventions, such as patient teaching and counseling are necessary for gynecological cancer patients who have reached 6 months after initial treatment.