Sex talks-experiences with and barriers to communication about sexuality with healthcare staff among patients with anxiety disorder in Denmark.

Autor:	Hald GM; Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen 1153, Denmark.; Department of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood 3125, Australia., Arendt M; Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark., Pavan S; Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen 1153, Denmark.; Department of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood 3125, Australia., Heymann-Szlachcinska A; Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg 9000, Denmark., Øllgaard M; Psykoterapeutisk Center Stolpegård, Gentofte 2820, Gentofte, Denmark., Winding C; Ballerup Psychiatric Center, Ballerup 2750, Denmark., Dilling-Hansen D; Psychiatric Clinic, Køge and Roskilde 4600, Denmark., Kruse SL; Psychiatric Center, Glostrup 2600, Denmark., Frøslev M; Center for Rape Victims, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N. 8200, Denmark., Larsen H; Psychiatric Clinic, Slagelse 4200, Denmark., Andersen PAS; Psychiatric Department, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle 7100, Denmark., Straarup NS; Ballerup Psychiatric Center, Ballerup 2750, Denmark., Strizzi JM; Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1153, Denmark.; Department of Psychology, University of Almería, Almería 04120, Spain.; CIBIS Research Center, University of Almería, Almería 04120, Spain.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	The journal of sexual medicine [J Sex Med] 2024 Oct 31; Vol. 21 (11), pp. 994-1003.
DOI:	10.1093/jsxmed/qdae098
Abstrakt:	Background: Previous research among diverse patient populations suggests that healthcare staff routinely do not talk about sexuality with their patients even when such talks are highly indicated and relevant. Aim: In this study we sought to investigate how patients at outpatient anxiety clinics in Denmark experience sexual communication with healthcare staff and what barriers they encounter in this connection. Methods: We employed a survey design from January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019. In collaboration with 11 outpatient anxiety clinics in Denmark, patients with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder were invited to participate in the study. The final sample included 272 patients. Survey questions were related to sociodemographic characteristics, sexual activity and dysfunctions, pharmacological treatment adherence, anxiety and depression symptoms, and experience with and barriers to sexual communication. For each participant, clinicians at the clinics provided the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, diagnostic codes, medications, and dosage. Study inclusion criteria were not having an organic disorder that may cause anxiety, not having a previous diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder or schizophrenia, and the ability to speak and read Danish. Outcomes: Outcomes included patients' experiences with and barriers to sexual communication with healthcare staff. Results: In total, 61% of the patients in this sample group found it relevant to talk to healthcare staff about sexuality but only 28% of the study patients had done so, of whom 83% reported this communication to be a positive experience. The most frequently reported patient barriers to communication with healthcare professionals regarding sexual concerns were a belief that if sexual matters were relevant, the healthcare staff would bring it up (94%), fear of transgressing their own boundaries (94%), embarrassment (92%), and lack of knowledge as to how to start a conversation about sex (91%). Clinical Implications: The study results indicated a need for healthcare staff to routinely map out and address sexual matters in their clinical work with anxiety patients while bearing in mind the common patient barriers for this topic. Strengths and Limitations: This study included a large clinical outpatient sample of anxiety patients and an extensive survey. However, the results may not be generalizable across all anxiety patients or patients in general. Conclusion: The results of this study strongly indicate that a majority of anxiety patients find it both relevant and beneficial to discuss sexual matters with healthcare staff in connection with their anxiety treatment, and therefore healthcare staff should be educated and equipped to routinely address these matters while bearing in mind the most common patient barriers for conversations about sexuality. (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Sexual Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
Externí odkaz:	Zobrazit plný text záznamu