Sexuality Attitudes and Beliefs Survey (SABS): Validation of the Instrument for the Spanish Nursing Students

Abstract

Patient sexuality is a fundamental subject in nursing student’s education. However, beliefs about patient sexuality can influence the care offered. The aim of this psychometric study was to describe the validation process and the psychometrics properties of the Sexuality Attitudes and Beliefs Survey (SABS) for Spanish nursing students. The convenience sample was 283 nursing students from a state university in Spain. Participants ranged from 18 to 30 years (M = 19.66; SD = 1.85). Data collection happened in 2019–2020. The translation, back translation and adaptation to Spanish was discussed and refined, ensuring the semantic, idiomatic and conceptual meaning of the items. The psychometric properties were assessed through analysis of validity and reliability. The Cronbach’s alpha for the final version of 12 items was 0.65. Although it has low reliability, the Spanish version of the SABS seems to be a valid and useful tool to measure nursing students’ beliefs about patient sexuality. In addition, it can be a resource for the assessment of the ability of Spanish nursing faculty in engaging topics involving the student’s vision of patient sexuality.

The relationship between the sexual care attitudes, beliefs and self‐efficacy of nursing students and gender roles: A cross‐sectional study

“…Therefore, all nurses should graduate with the skills to provide sexual care. However, the individual personalities, beliefs, and attitudes of nurses may constitute a barrier in providing this care (Aguiar Frias et al, 2021; Öz et al, 2021; Sharon et al, 2020). Although various studies have evaluated the beliefs, attitudes, and self‐efficacy of nursing students regarding sexual health care, more studies are needed in this area (Cesnik & Zerbini, 2017; Öz et al, 2021; Sung et al, 2015).…”

“…The positive attitudes and beliefs of nursing students regarding sexual care enable them to address sexuality as a part of the patients' holistic nursing care (Aguiar Frias et al, 2021; Öz et al, 2021). When the SABS total scores were examined in the present study, it was specified that male nursing students had more negative attitudes and beliefs regarding sexual care than female nursing students.…”

“…In the literature, it is stated that men feel more uncomfortable when providing sexual health care (Bdair & ConsTantino, 2017; Senturk Erenel & Cicek Ozdemir, 2020). A study conducted by Aguiar Frias et al (2021) on nursing students determined that there was a statistically significant correlation between gender and total SABS mean score, and the mean scores of males were higher (Aguiar Frias et al, 2021). A qualitative study conducted in Tukey found that barriers in sexuality care had perceptions of gender and cultural perspectives (Akalin & Ozkan, 2021).…”

Sexual education for university students and the community in a european project: study protocol

“…In this study, the instrument will be a questionnaire composed by socio-demographic data and different scales. On the one hand, the Sexuality Attitudes and Beliefs Survey (SABS) [ 51 ] and in its Spanish version [ 52 ], Portuguese [ 53 ] or Italian [ 54 ] versions, will be used as instrument, previously validated by the partner universities. This SABS will reinforce the possible results obtained in this protocol.…”

“…The scale is unidimensional, and the original form has a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.750, and a test-retest of 0.820 [ 51 ]. The Portuguese version has been validated by removing one item (N3) that improves internal consistency for social sciences, reaching a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.720, and in the test-retest of 0.800 [ 53 ], while the Spanish study reported a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.651 and is finally maintaining the 12 items [ 52 ]. The validated instrument in the Italian version shows adequate internal consistency (alpha = 0.76) [ 55 ].…”