Occupational therapy students' views on addressing sexual health

A Missing Piece of Occupational Therapy Education: Attitudes About Sex

Following a lecture on sexual health and function, occupational therapy students were surveyed regarding their past sex education and their comfort level with the topic of sex. Students indicated a lack of sexual education received from parents/guardians and a prevalence of fear-based education from formal or informal sources. Results reflected a significant increase in students' perceived comfort level with the topic following the lecture from a provider trained and certified in sexual health. As sexuality falls within the domain of occupational therapy, these results suggest a need for comprehensive sex education taught to students by qualified instructors.

The provision of healthcare services to older LGBT adults in the Nordic countries: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES

Our objectives were to examine what is known about the provision of healthcare services to older LGBT adults in the Nordic countries, identify knowledge gaps, map implications of this research for the education of healthcare professionals and delivery of healthcare, and identify key future research priorities to advance policy and practice for older LGBT adults in this region.

DESIGN

We conducted searches in nine databases. Peer-reviewed articles and PhD theses published in and after 2002 written in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish languages were included. 41 studies met our inclusion criteria. However, only eight of these studies focused specifically on older LGBT adults. Therefore, to answer all research questions, five book chapters about older groups were also included.

RESULTS

There were few studies from countries other than Sweden and few quantitative studies. Bisexual people represented a neglected group in research. The studies included showed that healthcare personnel lack knowledge on LGBT issues, particularly about older LGBT adults and non-binary gender identification. Older LGBT adults frequently reported being met with cis- and heteronormative expectations in healthcare encounters. For transgender people, access to medical treatment has been managed by gatekeepers influenced by a binary understanding of gender.

CONCLUSIONS

Relevant measures to enhance practices are increased attention on LGBT issues in education; training of healthcare professionals; measures at the institutional level; and ensuring that transgender people identifying as non-binary receive the same quality of care as individuals identifying in a binary way.

Occupational therapists views on addressing the sexuality of adult clients in rehabilitation settings: A qualitative focus group study

Sexuality is a common concern among people with disabilities or chronic conditions, and failure to address sexuality can lead to poorer rehabilitation outcomes. To explore the factors affecting addressing the sexuality of adult clients in clinical practice as perceived by Korean Occupational Therapists (OTs) and the perspective on what needs to be established to address sexuality in occupational therapy practice. This descriptive qualitative study using focus group interviews was conducted with 15 OTs providing rehabilitation services for adult clients in the post-onset maintenance phase or for outpatients in Seoul, South Korea. Data collected through focus groups were analyzed using the constant comparative method. The main factors influencing addressing clients sexuality in clinical practice were identified: "absence of institutional system for addressing sexuality in rehabilitation setting" for environmental factors; "lack of professional competency" for therapist-related factors; and "repressed sexuality" for client-related factors. Moreover, recognizing that "sexual health is one of the goals of rehabilitation" and prioritizing it in rehabilitation settings are essential. OTs must be "experts with knowledge and skills" to access the client's sexuality, and "education and publicity" should be actively conducted to raise awareness of sexual health for clients. To deal with clients sexuality, institutional preparation should be prioritized under the recognition that sexual health is one of the goals of rehabilitation. In addition, it is necessary to prepare a relevant curriculum for OTs and create awareness so that clients can recognize improving sexual activity as a role of OTs.

Experience of Recently Graduated Occupational Therapists in Addressing Sexuality with Their Clients

Health care consumers have emphasised the importance of being able to express themselves in a sexual nature, regardless of their health conditions. Unfortunately, literature based on experienced occupational therapists and students, indicates sexuality is poorly addressed, despite being a meaningful occupation. There is limited literature based on Australian experiences or the experiences of recent graduates, therefore this study aimed to explore how comfortable and prepared 11 recent graduates who studied in Australia, were in addressing sexuality, as well as the enablers and challenges experienced. A qualitative research design was utilized, with results demonstrating that undergraduate curricula are not adequately preparing new graduates to feel equipped with the knowledge, skills, comfort and preparedness to address sexuality. Enablers such as education, professional development and supportive workplaces, can aid to facilitate positive change in this area of practice, which may improve client outcomes.

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

BACKGROUND

Norwegian social educator students' attitudes towards addressing sexual health are unknown, even if their future clients often have needs related to sexual issues.

PURPOSE

To investigate social educator students' readiness to address sexual health in their future profession.

METHODS

In 2019, 213 social educator students (response rate 34%) responded to the Students' Attitudes towards addressing Sexual Health Extended online questionnaire.

RESULTS

Most of the social educator students felt comfortable and ready to address sexual health in their future profession, but thought they had insufficient competence and education concerning sexual health. There were gender and age differences when discussing sexual health among persons with intellectual disabilities.

CONCLUSION

Despite most Norwegian social educator students feeling ready to address sexual health, they needed additional competences and education. Further research is needed concerning the effectiveness of educational interventions targeting competence in sexual health, to ensure sufficient support for clients in this field.

Sexual health issues postpartum-A mixed methods study of women's help-seeking behavior after the birth of their first baby

OBJECTIVE

To identify women's help-seeking behavior in relation to sexual health issues after the birth of their first baby.

DESIGN

A mixed methods sequential explanatory study design was utilized. Phase one of the study consisted of a prospective cohort study to identify the help-seeking behavior of women experiencing sexual health issues at 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Phase two consisted of a qualitative descriptive design to explore women's help-seeking behavior for sexual health issues postpartum.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

The setting was a large urban tertiary referral maternity unit (greater than 8000 births per year) in the Republic of Ireland. Nulliparous women aged 18 years and over were invited to participate in phase one. Phase two consisted of a subsample of women who consented to being contacted for further research on admission to the study.

FINDINGS

Few women consulted a clinician for postpartum sexual health issues at each of the study's three, six and twelve month time-points. For example, only 2.9% (n=18) of women experiencing dyspareunia, and 3.6% (n=16) of those experiencing a lack of vaginal lubrication spoke to their General Practitioner (GP) about these issues at three months postpartum. The qualitative data supported the quantitative findings and suggested that even when women proactively sought help from healthcare professionals they were met with unhelpful responses. In the absence of support from practitioners, women became active agents and sought information from other women or the internet. In an effort to improve practice women recommended a greater focus on their physical and emotional recovery from birth.

KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Very few women consulted with a clinician about their experience of sexual health issues after birth. Findings will contribute to and assist policy makers in planning future postnatal services for women to include extending the final postnatal assessment beyond six weeks after birth.

Danish Health Professional Students' Attitudes Toward Addressing Sexual Health: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Introduction

Danish health professional (HP) students' attitudes toward addressing sexual health are unknown.

Aim

To investigate Danish HP students' attitudes toward addressing sexual health in their future professions, and to assess differences in perceived competences and preparedness between professional programs.

Methods

A Danish national survey of nursing, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy students was conducted. Totally, 1,212 students were invited to respond to an online questionnaire “The Students' Attitudes toward Addressing Sexual Health.”

Main Outcome Measure

The main outcome measures investigated were Danish HP students' attitudes toward addressing sexual health in their future professions, and differences in perceived competences and preparedness depending on the professional program.

Results

A total of 584 students (48%; nursing 44%, occupational therapy 70%, physiotherapy 43%) responded. Mean total score ranged between 63.7 and 66.3 (±8.3–8.8) classifying students in the low-end of the class: “comfortable and prepared in some situations.” No clinically relevant differences were determined between the professional programs with respect to perceived competences and preparedness to address sexual health.

Conclusion

In the field of addressing sexual health, most Danish HP students reported positive attitudes and a need for basic knowledge, competences, communication training, and education.

H Gerbild, C M Larsen, T. Junge, B. S. Laursen, K. Areskoug-Josefsson. Danish Health Professional Students' Attitudes Toward Addressing Sexual Health: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Sex Med 2021;9:100323.