Improving women's sexual health: a quantitative evaluation of an educational intervention for healthcare professionals

Abstract

Forty-three per cent of women in the USA report some type of sexual complaint and these complaints have been shown to negatively impact quality of life and overall wellbeing. With proper training and experience, healthcare professionals are in a unique position to help their patients improve their sexual health. The present study was designed to increase knowledge about female sexual dysfunction by offering a continuing education workshop combining didactic and experiential learning. Healthcare professionals representing the specialties of obstetrics, gynaecology, primary care, psychiatry and psychology attended the conference. Participants completed a pre-and post-test questionnaire assessing levels of comfort, competence, attitudes toward female sexual health and readiness for change. Using the pre-and posttest questionnaire, participants reported a significant increase in awareness about the importance of discussing issues of sexual health with their patients. Participants also reported motivation (or intent) to ask their patients about their sexual health. Providing information about female sexual dysfunction and its impact on patients' quality of life, effective treatments and referral resources as well as giving healthcare professionals an opportunity to practise asking about sexual health with facilitated feedback may significantly improve their motivation to respond to female sexual complaints.

Intervention intended to improve public health professionals’ self-efficacy in their efforts to detect and manage perinatal depressive symptoms among Thai women: a mixed-methods study

“…This is related to the performance accomplishment in Bandura's theory [17]. Previously, it has also been shown that HCPs with experience from patient practice increase their motivation to work on preventive tasks with women [34]. The FGDs revealed that the participants gained confidence in how to detect perinatal depressive symptoms because they had practiced with at least two women.…”

Effectiveness of an educational intervention on vulvo‐vaginal discharge for family healthcare workers: A nonrandomized controlled trial

“…The findings of this study have highlighted that knowledge regarding VVD among FHCWs has significantly improved by educational intervention. It is evident that training programs are effective in improving knowledge among healthcare workers (Ajuwon, Funmilayo, Oladepo, Osungbade, & Asuzu, 2008; Blair et al, 2013; Goonewardena, Rajapaksha, & Wickremasooriya, 2001). Following an educational intervention on intrapartum and postpartum care, FHCWs have shown a significant improvement of knowledge scores on different stages of labor and care of newborn (Goonewardena et al, 2001).…”

“…Bloom's taxonomy provided the conceptual framework for the development of the structure of the educational intervention (objectives, teaching and learning strategies, methods of evaluation) (Williams et al, 2006). A comprehensive review of the literature on STIs, reproductive tract infections and training programs for primary healthcare workers was conducted prior to the development of the content for the educational intervention (Blair et al, 2013; Bradshaw, Lovell, Bee, & Campbell, 2010).…”

“…Although there was no evidence in the literature on the intervention on vaginal discharge for FHCWs, it was evident during the need assessment done prior to this study (Ilankoon, Goonewardena, Fernandopulle, & Perera, 2016) that FHCWs possess an inadequate level of knowledge on VVD. It is evident that if the health care professionals had the knowledge, experience, and resources, it would have been more likely that they would have identified and treated female sexual complaints well (Blair, Arnow, Haas, & Millheiser, 2013). Hence, educational interventions related to VVD would be an advantage in empowering FHCWs with adequate knowledge, attitudes, and HE competencies on VVD.…”

Vaginal lubricants in the couple trying-to-conceive: assessing healthcare professional recommendations and effect on in vitro sperm function

“…Additionally, educational intervention has been shown to significantly increase HCP awareness of the importance of discussing sexual health with patients and may be an appropriate method to increase lubricant-related questioning among HCPs (Blair et al, 2013).…”