Bridging the gap in sexual healthcare in nursing practice: implementing a sexual healthcare training programme to improve outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a sexual healthcare training programme for clinical nurses, with respect to knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy concerning sexual healthcare.


BACKGROUND
Inadequate sexual healthcare can result in poor treatment and quality of life for patients. Few studies have examined the development of sexual healthcare and related interventions from nurses' perspectives.


METHODS
The study included two stages involving focus groups and a quasi-experimental design.


METHODS
The first stage consisted of an exploratory, descriptive session to assess nurses' perceptions and educational needs concerning sexual healthcare via two focus groups (N = 16). The second stage involved a quasi-experimental session to evaluate the training programme, based on the results of the first stage. In total, 117 nurses were recruited from a Taiwanese hospital; the experimental group (n = 59) completed a four-week (16 hours) training programme, and the control group (n = 58) did not participate in a training programme. Data were collected at four time points over 17 weeks. Longitudinal changes that occurred over time were examined using hierarchical linear models.


RESULTS
The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge (β = 0·16, p < 0·01), attitude (β = 0·18, p < 0·05), and self-efficacy (β = 0·73, p < 0·001) scores. Relative to that of the control group, the experimental group showed significantly greater improvement in knowledge (β = -0·12, p < 0·01) and attitudes regarding sexual healthcare (β = -0·25, p < 0·05), but their improvement in self-efficacy concerning sexual healthcare was limited (p = 0·179).


CONCLUSIONS
The training programme for sexual healthcare could exert positive and beneficial effects on nurses' development of knowledge regarding sexual healthcare and clarify their values and attitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
The training programme could reduce challenges related to sexual healthcare issues in nursing care.
Graduate Institute of Health Care, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan City, Taiwan. scsung@mail.cgust.edu.tw.
Su-Ching
SC
Sung
Department of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Yuli Branch, Yuli Township, Hualian County, Taiwan.
Huey-Hwa
HH
Jiang
Medication & Health Center, Banqiao Veterans Home, Veterans Affairs Council, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Ru-Rong
RR
Chen
Department of Psychiatry, Pingtung Branch, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan.|Department of Health Administration, Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology, Hualien County, Taiwan.
Jian-Kang
JK
Chao
D000328:Adult; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D060728:Reproductive Health; D013624:Taiwan
attitude; education; knowledge; nurse; self-efficacy; sexual health; sexuality