Nurses' and auxiliary nurses' beliefs and attitudes regarding the sexual health of patients with severe mental illness: A qualitative study
Julien Martinez, Elise Vérot
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Sexual health is essential to the overall health. People suffering from severe mental illness (SMI) experience a deterioration in their sexual health. These patients and their caregivers seem unwilling to engage in a dialogue concerning sexual health within the context of mental health care. AIM: The study investigated nurses' and care assistants' beliefs and attitudes regarding the sexual health of people with SMI on the psychiatric care pathway. METHODS: Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses and care assistants. Data were subject to a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged: (1) The formalization of the care approach towards people with a SMI in hospitals; (2) the place given to sexual health in psychiatry units; (3) nurses and care assistants are not equipped to deal with patients' sexual health. DISCUSSION: Caregivers consider that sexual health is a fundamental right and an indicator of good health. They nevertheless believe that the psychiatric hospital remains a place of acute care where sexual health is not considered. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: This research justifies that it is necessary to question the representations of nurses and care assistants before implementing a tailored intervention that integrates the consideration of sexual health into the holistic care of the patient on the psychiatric care pathway.