title: Sexuality at the end of life.
abstract: There is very little research literature that addresses sexuality at the end of life. Although end-of-life care has become a priority for nursing education, the issue of end-of-life sexuality is not included in the curriculum. Nurses are frequently in a position to establish relationships with couples that encourage a frank discussion and information sharing. As patient advocates, nurses can address end-of-life sexuality issues by taking a sexual history and implementing a general intervention model, such as the PLISSIT. Couples need to be reassured that if they have enjoyed a close sexual relationship, sexual intimacy may continue to be part of their relationship, even at the end of life.
authors.affiliation: Mercy College of Northwest Ohio, Oregon, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stausmire
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000451:nursing*; D019968:Sexual and Gender Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D019529:Sexuality; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*