Teaching medical students about the impact of radical treatments on patients' sexuality

Abstract

This three-hour teaching aims to raise students' awareness of patients' sexuality problems after radical treatments, particularly the importance of respect for an individual patient's perception of self, the depression that can result from disturbed body image, and the incidence of problems of sexuality following surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In 1997, this half-day experiential learning session was introduced to the under-graduate curriculum. Evaluation by questionnaire 5 months after the 1998 teaching session showed a significant attitudinal impact of the teaching on attendees - 98% of respondents stated positive learning outcomes: 72% volunteered that they had an increased awareness of the holistic needs of patients and 27% had reflected on the session afterwards.