Introduction: Spinal cord injury may seriously affect sexual health and sexuality, which can lead to lower self-esteem, social isolation, lower quality of life, and an increased risk of depression. Nurses play an extensive role in providing patient education. However, a gap between the patients' need for information and the lack of information provided by nurses still exists. Therefore, knowledge about barriers and facilitators regarding discussing patient sexuality is necessary.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 nurses working in Spinal Cord Injury rehabilitation in one clinic in the Netherlands. The following themes were discussed during the interviews: (1) attitude, (2) social factors, (3) affect, (4) habits and (5) facilitating conditions.
Results: Addressing patient sexuality was difficult due to the nurses' attitude and their environment. Sexuality was considered important but respondents were reserved to discuss the topic due to taboo, lack of knowledge, and common preconceptions. Participants expressed the need for education, a clear job description, time and privacy.
Conclusion: Nurses consider discussing patient sexuality as important but are hindered due to multiple factors. Organizational efforts targeted at knowledge expansion are needed to break the taboo and remove preconceptions. Nurses should provide opportunities to discuss the subject to intercept sexuality-related problems.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe specific tasks of each profession within the multidisciplinary team regarding patient sexuality should be discussed, agreed upon and protocolized.Adding a sexologist in the multidisciplinary team may be of benefit as well as structurally incorporating an appointment with the sexologist within the patients' schedule.If a sexologist is not available, opt for a nurse practitioner who is specialized - or wants to further specialize - in sexual health and sexuality.In order to create more awareness on patient sexuality within the nursing team, a working group can be arranged to give special attention to discussing the subject by organizing trainings and coaching fellow nurses to address sexuality.Create a safe and private environment for the patient when addressing sexuality.Educational interventions to enhance the nurses' knowledge in order to make nurses feel capable to provide basic sexuality-related patient education.
Keywords: SCI rehabilitation; Spinal cord injury; patient sexuality; rehabilitation; rehabilitation nursing; sexual health.