Social educator students' readiness to address sexual health in their future profession

Lunde, Hilde; Blaalid, Laila; Josefsson, Kristina Areskoug; Gerbild, Helle Nygaard

doi:10.1111/jar.12962

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…PA-SH-D can probably be used by other health professionals outside rehabilitation as the PA-SH-D broadly address sexual health and not only sexual health in rehabilitation. Furthermore, the SA-SH has been translated to Norwegian and extended for Social Educator Students working with people with intellectual disabilities (27 items), 46 , 47 implying that PA-SH-D potentially can be expanded to other professionals in social care as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychometric Properties of the Danish Version of the Questionnaire Professionals’ Attitudes towards Addressing Sexual Health (PA-SH-D)

Elnegaard¹,

Christensen

Thuesen

et al. 2022

Sexual Medicine

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Background Health professionals’ attitudes towards addressing sexual health are important to promote patients’ sexual health. Therefore, measurement of health professionals’ attitudes towards addressing sexual health is essential. Aim This study aimed to adapt the questionnaire Students’ Attitudes towards Addressing Sexual Health (SA-SH-D) to health professionals working with rehabilitation in Danish municipalities and evaluated psychometric properties of the adapted questionnaire: The Danish Version of the Professionals’ Attitudes towards Addressing Sexual Health (PA-SH-D). Methods The SA-SH-D was adapted to PA-SH-D and a face validity evaluation focusing on phrasing, functionality, perception and relevance was done. In a pilot study, the PA-SH-D was answered by health professionals and internal consistency reliability and floor and ceiling effects were evaluated. Outcomes Face validity included phrasing, functionality, perception and relevance of the items in PA-SH-D, internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha in the total scale and floor and ceiling effects. Results Face validity of the PA-SH-D was acceptable. The sample size was 52 health professionals working with rehabilitation, the internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha: 0.89 [lower confidence interval {CI}: 0.85]) and floor and ceiling effects (0.0%–13.7%) of the PA-SH-D were acceptable. Clinical translation As sexual health is important in human quality of life, the validation of the PA-SH-D is highly valuable as it evaluates health professionals’ attitudes towards addressing sexual health, and thereby is able to measure the need for education and training in sexual health and detect changes in attitudes following an educational intervention. Strengths and limitations Strengths were that the PA-SH-D measures both attitudes and competences and covered a need in clinical practice. The recruitment was broad and we used the work of others to orient this work. Limitations were that this study covered a preliminary psychometric evaluation and a thorough evaluation covering other aspects of psychometry should be done. We used both paper-based and online-based survey which possibly could cause bias. The study had a relatively small sample size. Comparing health professionals to students can be seen as both a limitation and a strength. Conclusion The results in face validity and internal consistency reliability indicate usefulness of the PA-SH-D to measure health professionals’ attitudes towards addressing sexual health. Further evaluation of psychometric properties of the PA-SH-D is recommended.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychometric Properties of the Danish Version of the Questionnaire Professionals’ Attitudes towards Addressing Sexual Health (PA-SH-D)

Elnegaard¹,

Christensen

Thuesen

et al. 2022

Sexual Medicine

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“…In previous research, staff in intellectual disability services have reported that harmful sexual behaviour was challenging for them to handle (Oloidi et al, 2022 ; Ward et al, 2001 ). Further, a lack of knowledge among professional caregivers about the sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities has been documented in several studies (Esmail et al, 2010 ; Lunde, 2014 ; Lunde et al, 2022 ; Saxe & Flanagan, 2016 ; Young et al, 2012 ). Fyson and Patterson ( 2020 ), interviewing staff from residential settings, found variations in staff's understanding of abuse and poor practice.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

People with intellectual disabilities and harmful sexual behaviour: Professionals' views on the barriers to prevent harm

Svae

Hassel

Søndenaa

2022

Research Intellect Disabil

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Background People with intellectual disabilities can be exposed to sexual abuse and they can display harmful sexual behaviour. This study aimed to identify barriers to preventing harmful sexual behaviour in people with intellectual disabilities within the support sector and the justice system. Method We conducted focus group interviews with 20 participants from hospital‐based habilitation centres, community residences, schools and the criminal justice system. Results The interviews identified a lack of education and guidelines for stakeholders or carers on regulating the sexual behaviour of people with intellectual disabilities. The criminal justice system faces challenges related to prioritising, understanding and communicating. People with intellectual disabilities may lack an understanding of the concepts of sexual consent and acceptable sexual behaviour. Conclusion There is a need to improve knowledge about intellectual disability and how to prevent harmful sexual behaviour for professional caregivers in the support sector and the criminal justice system.

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Norwegian Health Professionals’ Attitudes Toward Addressing Sexual Health with People with Intellectual Disabilities

Devik,

Henriksen,

Areskoug-Josefsson

et al. 2024

Sex Res Soc Policy

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Introduction Staff working with individuals with intellectual disabilities face challenges addressing sexual health. Professionals in this context have diverse backgrounds and education, and little is known about their attitudes and skills in providing support for a healthy sexual life and preventing abuse. Moreover, this topic has not been explored in the Norwegian context. The current study examined health professionals’ attitudes toward addressing sexual health with individuals with intellectual disabilities in Norwegian municipal health and care services. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Norwegian version of the professionals’ attitudes toward addressing sexual health among 72 health professionals working in municipal services for people with intellectual disabilities in Mid-Norway. The data was collected from November 2022 to January 2023. Results The professionals reported feeling partially comfortable and prepared to address sexual health issues with clients. They consistently expressed a need for more basic knowledge about sexual health and training in communicating about sexuality. Attitudes toward addressing sexual health varied based on the professionals’ education, gender, age, and work experience. Conclusions More targeted training on sexual health is needed within the educational programmes in health and social sciences. Sexual health should also be continuously addressed in the workplace and among colleagues. The differences in attitudes between professionals indicate that the composition of the staff benefits from diversity. Policy Implications Healthcare managers are responsible for ensuring greater openness and reflection on attitudes toward sexuality among individuals with intellectual disabilities in workplaces. Educational institutions must provide the necessary skill development and training in communication about sexual health for this client group.

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Social educator students' readiness to address sexual health in their future profession

Cited by 7 publications

References 64 publications

Psychometric Properties of the Danish Version of the Questionnaire Professionals’ Attitudes towards Addressing Sexual Health (PA-SH-D)

Psychometric Properties of the Danish Version of the Questionnaire Professionals’ Attitudes towards Addressing Sexual Health (PA-SH-D)

People with intellectual disabilities and harmful sexual behaviour: Professionals' views on the barriers to prevent harm

Norwegian Health Professionals’ Attitudes Toward Addressing Sexual Health with People with Intellectual Disabilities

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