Bridging the gap in sexual healthcare in nursing practice: implementing a sexual healthcare training programme to improve outcomes

Abstract

The training programme could reduce challenges related to sexual healthcare issues in nursing care.

Discussing sexuality in health care: A systematic review

“…Sample sizes ranged from 9 (Klaeson et al, ) –477 (Krouwel et al, ). Two studies evaluated the effectiveness of sexual healthcare training programmes for student nurses (Jonsdottir et al, ; Sung et al, ). A majority of the studies were conducted to explore and describe nurses’ attitudes, knowledge, experiences and barriers in regard to discussing sexuality and sexual health care with patients (Arikan et al, ; Hoekstra, Lesman‐Leegte, Couperus, Sanderman, & Jaarsma, ; Huang, Tseng, & Lee, ; Klaeson et al, ; Krouwel et al, ; Moore, Higgins, & Sharek, ; Saunamäki & Engström, ; Sung, Huang, & Lin, ).…”

“…Three other studies that used different study designs (mixed method, interventional and cross‐sectional survey) researched the same population of nurses (oncology) and concluded nurses who provided their patients with sexual healthcare education had a higher level of knowledge of sexual health due to years of nursing experience, recent training in the past 5 years and/or are graduate prepared (Jonsdottir et al, ; Krouwel et al, ; Moore et al, ). However, in two studies, nurses reported a lack of education, in‐service and training about sexual health that lead to knowledge and skill deficits in providing sexual healthcare information (Jonsdottir et al, ; Sung et al, ). Nurses were willing and wanted more knowledge, in‐services and training to engage in more meaningful conversations with patients (Jonsdottir et al, ; Saunamäki & Engström, ).…”

“…Several researchers have published on the benefits for patients if nurses had comprehensive training on topics related to sexual health care (Sung, Jiang, Chen, & Chao, ; Yingling, Cotler, & Hughes, ). Furthermore, nurses who were formally trained on how to best deliver sexual health information were more effective in addressing patients’ sexual health concerns proactively instead of reactively (Sung et al, ). Thus, positive benefits of nurses discussing sexuality with their patients could also result in cost savings from treating infections and other related illnesses.…”

“…Researchers need to identify specific barriers nurses face when attempting to deliver sexual healthcare education. Furthermore, many nurses tend to neglect sexual health care because they do not feel they have sufficient education, experience or confidence to properly engage with patients (Martel et al, ; Schub & Lawrence, ; Sung et al, ). Klaeson et al () explain that “this avoidance forms a barrier between the patient and the nurse which prevents nurses from giving satisfactory sexual health care to patients” (p. 11).…”

Sexual care for patients receiving dialysis: A cross‐sectional study identifying the role of nurses working in the dialysis department

“…The lack of knowledge and awareness is most likely a result of insufficiency in the current educational system; an omission recognized by nurses both nationally and internationally (Hautamaki, Miettinen, Kellokumpu‐Lehtinen, Aalto, & Lehto, ; Ho & Fernandez, ). Present findings, endorsed by literature, emphasize the necessity of implementing adequate education and training for nurses to incorporate sexual care into daily practice (East & Hutchinson, ; Sung, Jiang, Chen, & Chao, ; Sung & Lin, ). However, little is known about the long‐term effectiveness of the implementation of sexual education and training and if the renewed skills and practice patterns will sustain over time (Sung & Lin, ).…”