Meta-analysis of the effect of sexual health nursing interventions on improving post-treatment sexual dysfunction and partner relationship satisfaction in breast cancer patients

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Breast cancer survivors frequently experience sexual dysfunction and impaired partner relationships after treatment, but the effectiveness of nursing interventions in improving these post-treatment outcomes remains uncertain. To evaluate the efficacy of sexual health, nursing interventions on sexual dysfunction and quality of life in breast cancer survivors through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials published from database inception to January 31, 2026. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted the relevant data, and assessed methodological quality. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4, with standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) and 95% CIs used according to the type of outcome measure. Outcomes The primary outcomes were sexual dysfunction, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores, and Sexual Quality of Life (SQOL) scores. Results Sixteen randomized controlled trials involving 1929 patients were included. Compared with usual care, sexual health nursing interventions significantly improved sexual dysfunction (SMD = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.60-1.24, P < .001), FSFI scores (MD = 3.97, 95% CI: 3.07-4.86, P < .001), and SQOL scores (MD = 7.05, 95% CI: 5.94-8.15, P < .001). Subgroup analyses further confirmed the efficacy of sexual health nursing interventions across different intervention types. Sensitivity analysis showed that the pooled results were robust, and no evidence of publication bias was detected by Egger’s test (P > .05). Discussion These findings support the integration of sexual health nursing interventions into routine rehabilitation care for breast cancer survivors, as such interventions may help to alleviate post-treatment sexual dysfunction and improve SQOL. The strengths of this study include a comprehensive database search, rigorous methodology with independent reviewers, and robust sensitivity analysis. The limitations include potential heterogeneity across intervention contents and outcome measures, as well as the inclusion of studies conducted only in high-income countries, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Sexual health nursing interventions effectively alleviate sexual dysfunction and improve SQOL in breast cancer survivors.