Sexuality in Stroke Care: A Neglected Quality of Life Issue in Stroke Rehabilitation? A Pilot Study

McLaughlin, John; Cregan, Alison

doi:10.1007/s11195-005-8929-9

Cited by 48 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…In particular, professionals were worried about offending service-users by raising sexual issues "too early"in the rehabilitation process. This theme is consistent with previous research [25,[39][40][41][42]. However, research indicates that most service-users are not offended by discussion of their sexuality [43,44] and do expect professionals to make inquiries about sexuality [45], but future research should be conducted specifically with people who have experienced a TBI.…”

Section: Perceived Topic Sensitivity As a Hindrance To Discussing Sexsupporting

confidence: 87%

Talking about sex after traumatic brain injury: perceptions and experiences of multidisciplinary rehabilitation professionals

Dyer

Nair

2013

Disability and Rehabilitation

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Dyer, Kerry and das Nair, Roshan (2013) Talking about sex after traumatic brain injury: perceptions and experiences of multidisciplinary rehabilitation professionals. Disability and Rehabilitation, 36 (17 A note on versions:The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the repository url above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription. Purpose: Research indicates that although 50-60% of people who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience changes in sexual functioning, sexuality issues remain largely unaddressed in rehabilitation. This study aimed to explore rehabilitation professionals' perceptions and experiences of discussing sexuality with service-users who have had a TBI. Method: Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 24 participants from two local National Health Service trusts and from a national charity. Four focus groups were conducted with pre-existing groups of professionals, using a semi-structured interview schedule. Focus group data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Six main themes were derived from the analysis: (1) sexuality after TBI is a specialist issue; (2) sexuality is a sensitive subject; (3) practicalities of discussing sexuality; (4) roles and responsibilities; (5) dilemmas about risk and vulnerabilities; and (6) organisational and structural issues. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a more proactive approach to addressing sexuality issues be taken by incorporating sexuality into assessments and by having sexuality information available for service-users. Support for professionals is also needed in the form of the development of policy, on-going training and supervision. Implications for Rehabilitation Rehabilitation professionals find it difficult to deal with issues of sexuality following TBI, and the reasons for this are complex and interrelated.  To provide holistic care, a more proactive approach to addressing sexuality issues should be taken. Professionals do not need to be an expert in sexual issues to open dialogue.  Sexuality discussions should be incorporated into assessments, and written information should be available for service-users. Further training for professionals and organisational policy change is sometimes required to effectively deal with sexuality issues.

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Section: Perceived Topic Sensitivity As a Hindrance To Discussing Sexsupporting

confidence: 87%

Talking about sex after traumatic brain injury: perceptions and experiences of multidisciplinary rehabilitation professionals

Dyer

Nair

2013

Disability and Rehabilitation

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“…The KCAASS consists of 4 scales, i.e. Knowledge (scale range 14-56), Comfort (scale range 18-76), Approach (scale range [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] and Attitudes (scale range 4-16). As mentioned above, the questions and scenarios of the original questionnaire, including the KCAASS, were slightly adapted to make them suitable for professionals working with people with an ULD.…”

Section: Questionnairementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite this information about the importance of sexuality for ULD patients, many professionals in rehabilitation settings report that they do not feel comfortable discussing sexual issues with patients [13,14]. They refer to a lack of time, a lack of knowledge and missing the relevant skills to initiate a conversation about sexuality with their patients as reasons for not addressing sexuality with their patients [6,13,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing Sexuality as Standard Care in People with an Upper Limb Deficiency: Taboo or Necessary Topic?

et al. 2013

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The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether professionals who work with people with an upper limb deficiency (ULD) received questions about sexuality from their patients and whether they addressed sexuality themselves, and to analyze their knowledge and comfort level, approach and attitudes towards sexuality. An online questionnaire, including questions on self-perceived sexological competence and the Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS) was used to asses these aspects. One out of three professionals had received a question about sexuality from their patients. Nearly one out of five professionals had addressed sexuality themselves. Professionals who received a question about sexuality from patients or addressed this issue themselves had significantly higher scores on self-perceived knowledge about sexuality and on self-perceived conversation skills compared to professionals who did not. The scores on the KCAASS Knowledge and Comfort of professionals who received a question about sexuality or addressed the issue of sexuality were significantly higher than those of professionals who did not. Sexuality is thus only scantly discussed by professionals working with patients with an ULD. Professionals indicated they do not feel confident nor comfortable enough to address this issue. They also experience a lack of appropriate knowledge to address sexuality with patients. Professionals reported a need for courses and training on both knowledge and conversation skills concerning sexuality. In addition, a 123Sex Disabil (2013) 31:167-177 DOI 10.1007 protocol and necessary facilities need to be provided for the team working with people with an ULD in order to be able to address sexuality systematically.

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“…In cultures where it is more or less a taboo to discuss sexuality publicly, discussing sexuality with individuals with neurologic disabilities is difficult and thus makes its rehabilitation difficult 8 . This is probably the reason for the negligent attitude shown by professionals towards the effect of stroke on sexuality and the sexual health of stroke survivors 9 . Studies reporting sexual dysfunction among stroke survivors in Nigeria are not common.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual dysfunction in Nigerian stroke survivors

Akinpelu¹,

Osose²,

Odole³

et al. 2013

Afr H. Sci.

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Background: Over three-quarters of stroke survivors experience disruption of sexual functioning. Studies reporting poststroke sexual function of Nigerian patients are few. Objectives: This survey reports sexual dysfunction in Nigerian stroke survivors, and determines the influence of sociodemographic, clinical and psychological factors on the dysfunction. Methods: Participants were 77 stroke survivors (60 males; 17 females) recruited consecutively from a teaching hospital. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale and post-stroke sexual function questionnaire. Participants' motor ability was rated on the Modified Motor Assessment Scale. Data were analysed using Chi square test and Mann-Whitney U test (alpha level set at 0.05). Results: Participants were aged 55.2±10.8 (28-79) years. Most (94.8%) participants reported a dysfunction in sexual function. Decline in libido and coital frequency were reported by >70% and in erection, ejaculation and orgasm by >60% of participants. Participants' with erectile dysfunction were significantly older than those without (U=267.0; p=0.02). Depression, quality of life, willingness to have sex, general attitude to sex and ability to express sexual feelings had significant influence on sexual dysfunction reported by participants (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that sexual dysfunction is common among Nigerian stroke survivors and it is mostly associated with psychological factors.

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Sexuality in Stroke Care: A Neglected Quality of Life Issue in Stroke Rehabilitation? A Pilot Study

Cited by 48 publications

References 43 publications

Talking about sex after traumatic brain injury: perceptions and experiences of multidisciplinary rehabilitation professionals

Talking about sex after traumatic brain injury: perceptions and experiences of multidisciplinary rehabilitation professionals

Addressing Sexuality as Standard Care in People with an Upper Limb Deficiency: Taboo or Necessary Topic?

Sexual dysfunction in Nigerian stroke survivors

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