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Survey on International Health Professional Training and Attitudes on Sexuality After Traumatic Brain Injury

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Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a range of deficits that may negatively impact sexuality. Few studies have explored how professionals respond to sexuality issues among individuals with TBI. The present study aimed to examine the attitudes and level of training of international health professionals working with individuals with TBI and whether guidelines exist in their work settings related to sexual issues. A survey composed of 53 questions was developed to evaluate attitudes, professional training, and assessment related to sexuality among health professionals working with individuals with TBI. The sample consisted of 324 self-identified health care professionals. During their training, 83% of professionals reported not taking any specific courses, and 61% reported not taking any type of clinical practice related to sexuality issues after TBI. Approximately 70% reported knowing little information about sexuality issues related to TBI and believed it affected the way in which they address the topic with their patients. Professionals believed sexual expression among both cognitively intact (100%) and cognitively impaired (90%) patients was healthy. Sixty-nine percent reported their work setting had no guidelines to determine if an individual with TBI can consent to sexual activity or not. Sixty-six percent of professionals believed that a patient with severe TBI could consent to sexual activities; however 58% believed it is not their responsibility to determine that. Results demonstrated a need for enhanced educational curriculums with specific courses related to sexuality after TBI. Furthermore, institutions should develop guidelines for the assessment of capacity to consent to sexual activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BioCruces Health Research Institute, Cruces University Hospital, Plaza de Cruces s/n. 48903, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain

    Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla

  2. IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain

    Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla

  3. Psychology and Education Faculty, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain

    Laiene Olabarrieta-Landa

  4. Division of Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, NY, USA

    Melissa M. Ertl

  5. Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA

    Lillian Flores Stevens

  6. Departments of Psychology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Lillian Flores Stevens & Alejandra Morlett-Paredes

  7. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, Ulleval, Oslo, Norway

    Nada Andelic

  8. Institute of Health and Society, Research Centre for Habilitation and Rehabilitation Models and Services (CHARM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Nada Andelic

  9. Concussion Care Centre of Virginia, Ltd., Richmond, VA, USA

    Nathan Zasler

  10. Tree of Life Services, Inc., Richmond, VA, USA

    Nathan Zasler

  11. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Nathan Zasler

  12. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Nathan Zasler

  13. IBIA, London, UK

    Nathan Zasler

Authors
  1. Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla
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  2. Laiene Olabarrieta-Landa
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  3. Melissa M. Ertl
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  4. Lillian Flores Stevens
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  5. Alejandra Morlett-Paredes
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  6. Nada Andelic
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  7. Nathan Zasler
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Arango-Lasprilla, J.C., Olabarrieta-Landa, L., Ertl, M.M. et al. Survey on International Health Professional Training and Attitudes on Sexuality After Traumatic Brain Injury. Sex Disabil 35, 473–484 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-017-9503-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-017-9503-y

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