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A Longitudinal Study of Sexuality Training for the Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Team

Sexuality and Disability volume 29, pages 87–100 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Discipline specific and multidisciplinary training programs have been developed to provide practitioners working in health and disability fields with various combinations of knowledge, skills, attitudes and practitioner comfort important for such discussions. There is little, however, which demonstrates the long term effectiveness of such training programs. The current study is a 2-year follow-up to a randomized controlled trial that examined the effectiveness of a sexuality training program for rehabilitation practitioners working within spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Using both questionnaire-based and qualitative data, findings suggest that training can have long-lasting effects on practitioner knowledge, comfort and attitudes in addressing sexuality issues with clients. Training that is developed around the individualized needs of practitioners and the settings within which they work may be particularly effective. Future research is needed to explore the applicability of this type of training to other rehabilitation and healthcare settings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Services and Social Work, Griffith University, Logan Campus, University Drive, Meadowbrook, Brisbane, QLD, 4131, Australia

    Patricia Fronek

  2. Transitional Rehabilitation Program, Queensland Spinal Cord Injury Service, Brisbane, Australia

    Melissa Kendall & Susan Booth

  3. Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia

    Melissa Kendall

  4. Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia

    Patricia Fronek & Melissa Kendall

  5. Spinal Injuries Unit, Queensland Spinal Cord Injury Service, Brisbane, Australia

    Ellen Eugarde & Timothy Geraghty

Authors
  1. Patricia Fronek
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  2. Melissa Kendall
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  3. Susan Booth
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  4. Ellen Eugarde
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  5. Timothy Geraghty
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Correspondence to Patricia Fronek.

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Fronek, P., Kendall, M., Booth, S. et al. A Longitudinal Study of Sexuality Training for the Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Team. Sex Disabil 29, 87–100 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-010-9177-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-010-9177-1

Keywords

  • Sexuality
  • Training
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Australia