Improving Occupational Therapists’ Comfort and Confidence in Addressing Sexual Function Through Education

Sexuality is an important activity of daily living that is a “central characteristic and foundational factor for human quality of life” (AOTA, 2013). Sex, sexual behaviors, and sexuality can be negatively affected by a disability, acute illness, or chronic disease. Sexual dysfunction can affect a person’s confidence, physical capabilities, emotions, cognition, and opportunities to participate in sexual activity. Impairments to a person’s ability to engage in sexual activity and express their sexuality can have devastating effects on their quality of life (Eglesder, Webb, & Rennie, 2018). Despite the importance of sexuality to people’s health and well-being, sexuality is not being addressed to many barriers including a lack of education (Couldrick, 1999; Eglesder et al., 2018; Pollard & Sakellariou, 2007). The literature review supported that confidence and comfort in addressing sexuality can be improved through sexuality education programs, and that online educational programs are effective ways to educate people about a certain topic. To have a truly holistic approach toward a patient’s health, occupational therapists need to address sexuality and sexual health with their patients. The most critical way to improve occupational therapists’ comfort, confidence, and follow-through with addressing sexuality is with education (Eglesder et al., 2018). The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an online education program to improve the participants’ comfort and confidence when addressing sexuality.The project was completed over six weeks and included 21 occupational therapy practitioner participants. The pretest-posttest design included pretest and posttest surveys which measured the participants’ rate of addressing sexuality, and comfort and confidence when addressing sexuality. The intervention included six 60-90 minute pre-recorded educational modules and four live 60-90 minute discussion calls. The results indicated that that occupational therapy practitioners had improved comfort and confidence when addressing sexuality, had decreased concerns about addressing sexuality, and an increased rate of addressing sexuality. It is recommended that sexuality education is given to more occupational therapy practitioners to improve the treatment and acknowledgement of this critical activity of daily living. This study is important to practice as it successfully demonstrates the effectiveness of online educational training in improving the comfort and confidence of occupational therapists when addressing sexuality and supports Vision 2025 in creating effective leaders who are promoting inclusion in the ADL of sexuality.

References

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2013). Sexuality and the role of occupational therapy. Retrieved from https://www.aota.org/About-Occupational-Therapy/Professionals/RDP/Sexuality.aspx

Couldrick, L. (1999). Sexual issues within occupational therapy, Part 2: Implications for education and practice. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 26-30. https://www.doi.org/10.1177/030802269906200107

Eglseder, K., Webb, S., & Rennie, M. (2018). Sexual functioning in occupational therapy education: A survey of programs. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6. https://www.doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1446

Pollard N., & Sakellariou, D. (2007). Sex and occupational therapy: Contradictions or contraindications? British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70(8), 362-365. https://doi.org/10.1177/030802260707000807