Sexuality Issues (sexuality + issues)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Radical prostatectomy: men's experiences and postoperative needs

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 7 2005
Jean Burt MN
Aims and objectives., This study sought to explore men's experiences after radical prostatectomy and whether they perceived their preoperative teaching adequately prepared them for postoperative recovery. Tape-recorded telephone and face-to-face interviews were conducted at days 2, 7 and 21, and 3 and 12 months postdischarge. Background., Although verbal and written instruction about postoperative expectations and care are provided routinely before radical prostatectomy, patients express concern about a lack of preparation in managing urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Design., This qualitative descriptive study explored in-depth men's experiences during the year following their surgery. Methods., Multiple, tape-recorded, semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 17 participants and a single, in-depth, face-to-face interview was conducted 12 months postoperatively with a subset of five men selected for their reflective and descriptive abilities. Results., Although participants received comprehensive written and verbal information preoperatively, it was not sufficient to foster their management of all postoperative sequelae. Telephone follow-up, used as a data collection strategy, was helpful in fostering adjustment after surgery and relieved anxiety caused by side effects of surgery and unanswered questions. Conclusions., Pre- and postoperative teaching needs to make allowances for the impact of stress on the recall and processing of information. Written information in itself is not adequate to answer necessary questions and provide reassurance. Follow-up telephone support is recommended as a way of fostering adjustment after surgery. Relevance to clinical practice., This study shows that: (i) Written information in itself is not adequate to answer necessary questions and provide reassurance, (ii) Nurses need to be prepared, both educationally and psychologically, to observe non-verbal cues and to address questions and concerns that are rarely voiced in ways that indicate their significance to the person and (iii) Men may not speak about sexuality issues in ways that accurately reflect the extent of their worry and/or distress about erectile dysfunction. [source]


Sexuality and personal relationships for people with an intellectual disability.

JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 11 2009
Part I: service-user perspectives
Abstract Background Despite a recent ideological shift towards the recognition of sexual autonomy for people with an intellectual disability (ID), there are continuing social and cultural barriers to sexual expression. Part I of the current two-part study assessed the sexual knowledge, experiences and aspirations of service users through focus groups and also examined their perceptions of impediments to achieving sexual autonomy. Method Thirty-two participants (20 male, 12 female) attending an ID service participated in focus groups delineated by gender and age group (13,17 years; 18,30 years; 31+ years). Results Analysis of the focus groups showed that service users, especially those over the age of 18 years, had an understanding of their sexual rights but also identified a number of social and cultural barriers that they felt prevent them from achieving sexual autonomy. Those under the age of 18 years had only rudimentary knowledge of sexuality issues, for example pregnancy and sexual anatomy, but aspired to relationships and marriage similar to those over the age of 18 years. Family and staff attitudes appeared to be very influential in the views of respondents. All service users had received some form of sex education, although the benefits of such education appeared most enduring for those over 18 years. Conclusion Service users had an understanding of their sexual rights and the social and environmental barriers that prevent them from fulfilling their rights. The provision of sex education training and promotion of positive attitudes towards appropriate sexual expression is critical to the realization of sexual autonomy for people with an ID. [source]


Recommendations for Sexuality Education for Early Adolescents

JOURNAL OF OBSTETRIC, GYNECOLOGIC & NEONATAL NURSING, Issue 3 2006
Kristin Haglund
Objective:, To determine community support and identify appropriate learning methodologies, parameters of delivery, and intervention content. Design:, Qualitative descriptive study in which participants were interviewed in a semistructured format. Data were analyzed thematically. Setting:, An urban pediatric primary care clinic from which youths and parents were recruited. Participants:, Ten youths, 10 parents, and 10 community members. Community members included professional and laypersons who had experience in working with early adolescents or in working with children of any age on sexuality issues. Overall, most participants were female (67%) and African American (67%). Results:, Descriptions of early adolescents' knowledge of sexuality, participants' support for sexuality education for early adolescents, recommendations for education content, and preferred methods for education delivery. Conclusion:, The participants supported comprehensive sexuality education for early adolescents. They believed that it would help youths to be abstinent, would provide some protection from sexual abuse, and would prepare them to practice safer sex in the future. JOGNN, 35, 369-375; 2006. DOI: 10.1111/J.1552-6909.2006.00048.x [source]


Discussing sexuality in the clinical setting: The impact of a brief training program for oncology health professionals to enhance communication about sexuality

ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Amanda HORDERN
Abstract Aim: Cancer and its treatments can profoundly affect a person's sexuality and self-image. However, oncology health professionals (OHP) are often reluctant to discuss these issues with patients. Cancer Council Victoria developed a short workshop to increase OHP's discussion of sexuality issues with cancer patients. We examined the immediate and longer term effect of workshop participation on perceived barriers to these discussions, their confidence in initiating the discussions, and changes in the frequency of their discussing sexuality issues with patients. Method: Twenty-one workshops were conducted involving 155 OHP. The workshops were run by trained facilitators and incorporated cognitive, behavioral and experiential components. A major part of the workshop involved role-playing with simulated patients (trained actors). Questionnaires assessing 20 perceived barriers, seven confidence items and seven practices concerning sexuality discussion were completed by the participants pre-workshop, immediately post-workshop, and 8-weeks post-workshop. Results: Overall 89 participants completed all three assessment phases. Data were analysed to assess change in perceived barriers, confidence and behavior across the three assessment points. Mean scores on 16 of the 20 barriers significantly decreased and scores on all seven confidence measures significantly increased between pre- and immediate post-workshop. Most these changes were maintained 8 weeks later. The mean frequency of sexuality issue discussion in the previous 2 months increased significantly from 3.34 times at pre-workshop to 3.82 times 8 weeks later (P = 0.003). Conclusion: This workshop appeared to reduce perceived barriers, increase confidence and increase actual practices around discussing sexuality issues with cancer patients. [source]