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Attitude and Behaviors of Senior Nursing Students in Assessment of Sexual Health

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Abstract

This study aimed to determine the attitude and behaviors of senior nursing students towards assessing the sexual health of the individuals to whom they give care during their nursing studies. The study was designed as a descriptive study. Data were collected using the personal information form and the Sexual Attitude and Belief Survey (SABS). This study was approved by the relevant ethics committee and institutions. 95% of the students were informed about sexual health. 68.9% of the students stated that they can talk about sexual health issues with the individuals to whom they give care. Students' mean total SABS score is 32.54 ± 6.86. The mean total SABS score was found to be associated with the gender of the student, being informed about sexual health, having sufficient knowledge about sexual health, and the ability to discuss sexual health with the individuals to whom they give care. We found that students who believe it is more appropriate to receive requests from patients to talk about sexual health issues had higher mean of SABS score. Also students who believe individual, religious, social, and institutional factors may affect their ability to provide sexual health care were more likely to have challenges in evaluating patients' sexualities. We conclude that despite having positive attitudes and behaviors regarding sexual health care, nursing students do not feel confident in their ability to provide sexual health care and have difficulties initiating care.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thanks all the students who agreed to participate in the study.

Funding

This study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Women’s Health Nursing, Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Ayten Senturk Erenel & Sevil Cicek Ozdemir

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  1. Ayten Senturk Erenel
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  2. Sevil Cicek Ozdemir
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Correspondence to Sevil Cicek Ozdemir.

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Informed consent was obtained from all the students included in the study.

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Senturk Erenel, A., Cicek Ozdemir, S. Attitude and Behaviors of Senior Nursing Students in Assessment of Sexual Health. Sex Disabil 38, 503–514 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-020-09642-3

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