A Scoping Review to Identify Barriers and Enabling Factors for Nurse–Patient Discussions on Sexuality and Sexual Health

Abstract

Background: Sexuality and sexual health (SSH) are essential aspects of care that have evolved since a 1975 World Health Organization (WHO) report on SSH. However, nurses still consider discussing the subject with patients a challenge. This scoping review aimed to map, synthesize, and summarize findings from existing literature regarding barriers and enabling factors for nurse–patient SSH discussions in care contexts. Methods: A scoping review model inspired by Arksey and O’Malley was used to search for and synthesize studies published between 2009 and 2019. The databases searched were the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, i.e., MEDLARS Online. A total of nineteen articles were eligible to be included. Results: Two main categories of enabling factors were identified, i.e., a professional approach via using core care values and availability of resources. Three major categories of barriers were identified: beliefs and attitudes related to age, gender, and sexual identity; fear and individual convictions; and work-related factors. Conclusions: Applying professionalism and core care values as well as making resources available are likely to promote SSH discussions between nurses and patients. Moreover, there is a need for a norm-critical approach in education and practice.

Approaches for improving sexuality and sexual health care in mental health settings: A qualitative study exploring clinicians' own perspectives

“…For example, our analysis suggests developing knowledge and accessing relevant information (theme 1) may be facilitated by supportive peers, senior colleagues, and workplaces more broadly (theme 2). The need for, and potential benefits of, a supportive environment to facilitate sexuality-related practice is supported by some previous studies (see Åling et al, 2021;Hughes et al, 2018;White et al, 2020). Our finding that knowledge and information (theme 1) contributes to building comfort to discuss and address sexuality within the therapeutic encounter (theme 3) also supports previous studies (e.g., Lu et al, 2021).…”

“…Nurses are often identified as 'well placed' to address sexuality-related concerns for individuals engaging mental health services (Åling et al, 2021;Hendry et al, 2018;Quinn et al, 2018). Given the personcentred and recovery-oriented frameworks underpinning mental healthcare in Australia, the provision of relevant sexuality-related care should also be part of other mental health clinicians' routine practice.…”

“…Despite broad consensus on the need to improve sexuality-related practice in mental health and other health settings, it is not clear how to best achieve this. Clinicians in health and mental health settings require improved education and training opportunities as well as tools for improved sexuality-related practice (e.g., Åling et al, 2021;Hughes et al, 2018;Tennille et al, 2022;White et al, 2020). Educating or otherwise upskilling clinicians is often emphasized as the primary solution in much of the wider literature (e.g., Hendry et al, 2018), and there is some evidence this is useful.…”

Forhandlinger i samskapning og utvikling av digitale emner i høyere utdanning

“…Studier viser at helsepersonell ikke arbeider med seksuell helse, av grunner som utrygghet, flauhet eller at en tror temaet ikke er viktig for bruker eller pasient. Manglende retningslinjer er også en medvirkende årsak (Dyer & das Nair, 2013;Fennell & Grant, 2019;Åling et al, 2021).…”

Implicit Bias Toward Lesbian and Gay Persons Among Nursing Students: A Correlation Study

“…These disparities disproportionately increase the occurrence and burden of trauma, illness, and premature death in this population (Connors et al, 2020). Contributing to health disparities are real or perceived barriers (Åling et al, 2021) that include access to health insurance and lack of financial, social, and institutional support (Goldhammer et al, 2018). Additional barriers include negative experiences in the health care setting, lack of health care provider (HCP) knowledge, and actual or perceived negative explicit and implicit bias among HCPs (Flaubert et al, 2021).…”