Addressing Unmet Needs of Female Cancer Survivors Seeking Sexual Health Information Through Social Media

Purpose: Sexual dysfunction is under-addressed throughout cancer care continua, and survivors often seek information outside of patient-provider relationships. This study aims to describe the demographics of cancer survivors seeking sexual health information through social media while describing preferred methods of information acquisition and the content patients seek online to fill knowledge gaps. Methods: An anonymous survey was made available online through a sexual health after cancer program’s social media page. Multiple-choice questions assessed age, cancer diagnosis, sexual health concerns, and resources used for health-related information. Short answer responses allowed for descriptions of unmet educational needs. Descriptive analyses of multiple-choice questions, and qualitative analysis of open response themes were performed. Results: Of 302 survey participants, 301 were cancer survivors. Participants ages 18 to 65+ had a variety of cancer types. Most reported that painful sex (36%) or low desire (34%) was their most bothersome problem. The majority (81%) reported interest in seeking sexual health information online. 161 (54%) participants provided free-text responses that were analyzed qualitatively. They expressed a particular need for information about low desire (25%) and discomfort during sex (15%). Conclusions: Female cancer survivors with diverse disease sites and ages seek sexual health information through social media to fill knowledge gaps that are often not met through direct provider communication. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Cancer patients, young and old, seek sexual health information from diagnosis through survivorship. These results inform tailored educational initiatives for survivors to receive accessible, evidence-based information in the media that they prefer, while highlighting the need to audit existing sources to minimize misinformation exposure.