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Nursing Students’ Experiences on Assessing the Sexuality of Patients: Mixed Method Study

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Abstract

This study aims to examine nursing students’ experiences on assessing the sexuality of patients. This research is a mixed method study consisting of two stages as qualitative and quantitative. The first stage was carried out with 104 students using a socio-demographical data form and the sexual attitude and belief scale (SABS) to collect data. In this stage, most students stated that they could collected data about patients’ sexuality in clinical practice; however, they could not make a nursing diagnosis and give care regarding sexuality. It was determined that this was due to the age, gender and education level of the patient/nurse. A significant difference was found between SABS total scores of students who collected data about sexual health and those who did not (p < 0.05). The second stage was carried out with 72 students. Focus group interviews were performed to examine the students’ experiences on assessing the sexuality of their patients. Two main themes were specified: barriers and recommendations. Most nursing students perceived many characteristics, particularly socio-demographical characteristics, as barriers for talking about sexual matters. Nursing care in this field is postponed since they do not talk about sexual problems. Nursing students’ problems in assessing the patients’ sexuality must be realized in the first year of education. Trainings that aim at eliminating the lack of knowledge are recommended.

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Change history

  • 27 May 2019

    The original version of the article was published with incorrect tables. The correct version of the tables is presented in this erratum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dicle University School of Nursing, Diyarbakır, Turkey

    Yeter Durgun Ozan & Mesude Duman

  2. Gyneocologic and Obstetric Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey

    Özlem Çiçek

Authors
  1. Yeter Durgun Ozan
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  2. Mesude Duman
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  3. Özlem Çiçek
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Correspondence to Özlem Çiçek.

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Durgun Ozan, Y., Duman, M. & Çiçek, Ö. Nursing Students’ Experiences on Assessing the Sexuality of Patients: Mixed Method Study. Sex Disabil 37, 613–623 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-019-09567-6

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