Pre-Implementation Assessment of a Sexual Health eClinic in Canadian Oncology Care

TL;DR

A virtual clinic for sexual health in prostate cancer survivors was studied for its potential use in Canada, finding both promise and challenges.

Contribution

The study provides practical recommendations for implementing a virtual sexual health clinic in oncology care based on stakeholder feedback.

Findings

SHAReClinic is seen as a much-needed, accessible resource for addressing sexual health in prostate cancer care.

Barriers include limited funding, lack of institutional support, and workflow integration challenges.

Participants emphasized the need for sustainable and scalable survivorship care models.

Abstract

Sexual health concerns are common among people who have had prostate cancer, but many do not receive the support they need. The Sexual Health and Rehabilitation eClinic (SHAReClinic) is a virtual clinic designed to provide personalized sexual health education and counseling to patients and their partners. In this study, we interviewed health professionals and hospital leaders across Canada to understand what might help or prevent SHAReClinic from being successfully used in cancer care. Participants said the clinic filled an important need and appreciated that it was flexible, private, and easy to access. However, they also pointed out challenges such as limited funding and potential difficulties with fitting it into existing workflows. Based on this feedback, we developed practical recommendations to support future implementation. These insights will help guide the next streps in expanding sexual health services across cancer care settings.

Sexual dysfunction is a prevalent and often under-addressed concern among prostate cancer survivors, significantly affecting quality of life for patients and their partners. The True North Sexual Health and Rehabilitation eClinic (SHAReClinic) is a virtual, biopsychosocial intervention developed to improve access to sexual health support for prostate cancer survivors and their partners. This study used a qualitative descriptive design to examine barriers and facilitators influencing the integration of SHAReClinic into oncology care across nine Canadian health care centres. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 knowledge users, including health care providers and institutional leaders. Data were analyzed using a hybrid deductive–inductive thematic approach guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) 2.0. Participants described SHAReClinic as a much-needed resource, particularly in the absence of standardized sexual health pathways in oncology care. The virtual format was seen as accessible and well suited to addressing sensitive topics. However, limited funding, lack of institutional support, and workflow integration challenges emerged as primary barriers to implementation. Findings offer practical, theory-informed guidance for integrating SHAReClinic into oncology care and highlight key considerations for developing sustainable and scalable survivorship care models.