title: Sexuality, sexual health and older people: A systematic review of research on the knowledge and attitudes of health professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sexuality remains important to older people and should be recognised as an important part of their overall care. However, this appears to be poorly understood and addressed by many healthcare professionals. This systematic review reports on knowledge and attitudes of health professionals towards sexuality and sexual health of older people, including factors that impact knowledge and perceptions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The review, conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute methods, included 23 studies of varied methodology published between January 2004 and January 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings indicated that healthcare professionals often consider older people's sexuality as outside their scope of practice and there is lack of knowledge and confidence in this area. Cultural norms and taboos, length of time spent working with older people, familiarity with the older person, previous training and degree of exposure to people who are not heterosexual were all identified as factors that impact knowledge and attitude.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better role modelling and education are needed to improve knowledge and attitudes toward later life sexuality.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care (ACEBAC), College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haesler
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care (ACEBAC), College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia. Electronic address: m.bauer@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care (ACEBAC), College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fetherstonhaugh
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005853:Geriatrics; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D060728:Reproductive Health; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Attitudes; Elderly; Knowledge; Sexuality; Systematic review