Current practice and barriers to the management of sexual issues in rheumatology: results of a survey of health professionals

Abstract

Although HPs regarded sexuality as a relevant topic in rheumatic health care, they seldom raised the topic in consultations. Those with further education in sexuality addressed sexual issues more frequently and felt more comfortable. Correspondingly, the majority of respondents requested more education. Such training should be part of the basic HPs' education, as well as part of postgraduate courses.

Relationship Between the Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy on Sexual Health Care for Nursing Students

“…In other words, nursing students with more KSH would have a more positive attitude on sexual health care that would then have more confidence to discuss and provide related information on sexual health care. This finding is similar to the results of Helland et al (2013), which found that the health providers with relevant education in sexuality had significantly more comfortable attitude to talk about sexuality and raised sexual issues significantly more often. Because attitudes are formed as a result of experiences as well as from knowledge, cognitive knowledge and facts will lead us to believe (Bruess & Greenberg, 2009).…”

Health Care Students' Attitudes Toward Addressing Sexual Health in Their Future Profession: Validity and Reliability of a Questionnaire

“…Maintaining professional boundaries is essential when working with sexual health, and students in health care professions need to have sufficient knowledge of how to work with sexual health and to feel confident that they are still upholding professional boundaries, despite the sensitive subject and the hands-on practice that nursing and rehabilitation often include (Soundy, Stubbs, Jenkins, & Cooper, 2013). There are several reasons that health care professionals avoid communicating with their patients about sexual health, including underestimation of the prevalence of decreased sexual health, embarrassment, and personal discomfort, together with lack of time, privacy, and competence (Haboubi & Lincoln, 2003;Helland, Garratt, Kjeken, Kvien, & Dagfinrud, 2013; Kirana et al, 2009;Krebs, 2007;McGrath & Lynch, 2014;Reynolds & Magnan, 2005). Gender, patient's age, personal values, and experiences influence students' attitudes toward sexual issues, and negative attitudes can impede effective sexual health consultations (Areskoug-Josefsson & Gard, 2015;Krebs, 2007).…”

Health Care Students’ Attitudes Towards Working with Sexual Health in Their Professional Roles: Survey of Students at Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Programmes

“…There is research showing that the type of pedagogical model used in teaching sexual health and communication about sexual heath affects the outcome of the intervention (Carabez, Pellegrini, Mankovitz, Eliason, & Dariotis, 2015;Coleman et al, 2013;Parish & RubioAurioles, 2010;Penwell-Waines et al, 2014). To highlight sexual health in the health care professions, increased knowledge and education concerning sexual health is advisable (Evans, 2013;Helland, Garratt, Kjeken, Kvien, & Dagfinrud, 2013). In some instances, sexuality education programs are offered as elective in the health professional curriculum (Kontula, 2011).…”

“…Sexual health education increases the confidence and the likelihood for health care professionals to address sexual health with their patients (Helland et al, 2013). Denmark has national guidelines concerning rehabilitation for various diseases and functional disabilities, and those guidelines include sexual health, thus indicating that health care professionals must be prepared to promote sexual health in their professional work (Sundhetsstyrelsen, 2007(Sundhetsstyrelsen, , 2012(Sundhetsstyrelsen, , 2013.…”