Abstract
PurposeSince pediatric surgeons aim to follow their patients with anorectal malformations (ARM) into adulthood the aim of this study was to investigate how pediatric surgeons deal with sexual issues related to ARM.MethodsIn 2018, a questionnaire was developed by the working group “Follow-up and sexuality” of the ARM-Net consortium and sent to all consortium-linked pediatric surgeons from 31 European pediatric surgical centers. Obtained data were statistically analyzed.ResultsTwenty-eight of 37 pediatric surgeons (18 males/10 females) answered the questionnaire. The majority of pediatric surgeons (82%) think they should talk about sexual issues with their patient. More than 50% of pediatric surgeons do not feel at all or only moderately confident discussing the topic of sexuality. Most pediatric surgeons require more support (96%) and wish to be trained in sexuality and sexual issues (78%) to feel confident towards their ARM-patients/parents. For optimal care, sexual issues with ARM-patients should be managed by a multidisciplinary team.ConclusionsPediatric surgeons feel that sexuality is an important issue for their ARM-patients, which they are primarily responsible of but should be managed in concert with a multidisciplinary team. A training in sexuality is wished to feel more confident about this specific issue.
Highlights
Sexual development already starts in childhood, when toddlers start to explore their body and interact with other children by inducing games such as “doctor” and “patient”, building up their sexual identity [1]
A questionnaire evaluating sexual issues was developed by the working group “Follow-up and sexuality” of the ARMNet consortium based on analyses of previous literature conducted in the field of sexuality in anorectal malformations (ARM) patients, and on relevant information given by pediatric surgeons and by patients and parents associations represented in the ARMnet consortium
That evaluation, attainment and maintenance of sexual health are especially lacking in patients with the history of a congenital ARM, the ARM-Net consortium aimed to identify current practice, as well as personal opinions of pediatric surgeons from different European renown pediatric surgical centers towards this specific issue
Summary
Sexual development already starts in childhood, when toddlers start to explore their body and interact with other children by inducing games such as “doctor” and “patient”, building up their sexual identity [1]. Eva Elisa Amerstorfer and Caterina Grano share first-authorship. Eva Elisa Amerstorfer, Caterina Grano and Iris A. L. M. van Rooij are contributed to the work. The members belonging to the ARM-Net consortium not mentioned as contributors are written down below the “Acknowledgements” section
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