Nurses' knowledge, attitude, and practice toward the sexual health of breast cancer patients.

Background: This study explores the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding the sexual health of breast cancer patients among nurses in Nanjing, China. Methods: Conducted from June to July 2023 across six hospitals, this web-based cross-sectional study utilized a self-administered questionnaire, resulting in 252 valid responses, predominantly from female nurses (98.41%). Results: The mean scores indicated inadequate knowledge (8.82 ± 5.33), a positive attitude (38.43 ± 5.23), and inactive practice (27.75 ± 6.68) regarding patients' sexual health. Multivariate logistic regression identified that the lack of training on breast cancer sexual health was significantly associated with lower knowledge (OR = 0.31, p = 0.001), while job satisfaction correlated positively with knowledge levels (OR = 1.28, p = 0.018). Age (OR = 1.13, p = 0.001) and attitude (OR = 1.22, p < 0.001) were linked to higher levels of practice. Structural equation modeling revealed that knowledge significantly positively influenced attitude (β = 0.493, p < 0.001), and both knowledge and attitude directly affected practice (β = 0.563 and β = 0.897 respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Overall, nurses demonstrated a need for improved knowledge and active practices concerning the sexual health of breast cancer patients.