Background: Contact nurses in cancer care (CNCC) often face challenges when communicating with patients and their families. The overall aim was to evaluate a brief digital validation training for CNCC, to test whether it was associated with increased validation and decreased invalidation. Associations between communication skills in validation and markers of work-related stress were also investigated. Methods: This intervention study investigated associations between the training and validation skills using a within-group design with repeated measures (at pre, post, and eight-week follow-up). Additionally, associations between the training and occupational self-efficacy, self-validation, and exhaustion symptoms were explored. Results: Seventeen CNCCs (all female with relatively long work experience) completed a five-week digital training program. Results indicated a statistically significant increase in validation and a statistically significant decrease in invalidation, showing that the nurses improved their communication skills following the training. No changes were found in markers of work-related stress. Conclusion: The results indicate that digital validation training for CNCCs is potentially beneficial by means of improving communication skills. This study further demonstrates that a brief digital training in validating communication to CNCC is associated with improved person-centered communication regarding strong negative emotions.
Purpose: To explore childhood cancer survivors' views about sex and sexual experiences and, as an additional aim, their possible needs for care and support from health care professionals regarding sexual life. Methods: Written online focus group discussions were performed with survivors of childhood cancer, identified through the Swedish Childhood Cancer Registry; 133 (36%; aged 16-25) participated. Written text was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in one main category: Could my cancer experience have an impact on my sexual life? with four generic categories: Sex considered to be good, Feeling insecure and falling behind, Relating sex to a stable relationship and Concerns related to the physical body. In general, participants had not reflected on the possibility that their cancer experience could impact on sexual life. Sex was often considered to be something natural, important and taken for granted. However, thoughts and worries were expressed including being shy, feeling insecure and falling behind peers. Physical concerns included vaginal dryness and difficulties related to erection and reaching orgasm. Many participants stated that sexual issues had not been discussed with health care professionals, however, the need for such support differed. Conclusions: Many of the childhood cancer survivors' did not relate their sexual experiences to previous cancer treatment. However, problems were expressed, both of emotional and physical nature. Many participants stated that they had not received any information or support regarding sexual issues from health care professionals, why it is recommended to be regularly addressed in follow-up care. © 2015.