Applied Nursing Research 28 (2015) 213–214
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Applied Nursing Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apnr
Guest Editorial
Addressing changing sexual health needs through the lifespan
Sexuality is a continued human need that begins in adolescence and extends through older adulthood. In optimum states of health and wellness, sexuality may be addressed privately between a couple. However, the risk for sexually transmitted diseases, ranging from Herpes Simplex to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) forces the discussion away from the sexual dyad into a healthcare context. In addition, the presence of illness often makes the fulfillment of sexual needs difficult and mandates the involvement of nurses and other members of the interprofessional team in order to achieve and maintain sexual health. Despite the great need for nurses and other healthcare providers to conduct sexual assessments and implement plans of care surrounding sexual health, they are reluctant to do so. Historically, sexual health needs are not often viewed with the same priority, as other health needs. This may be because of embarrassment inherent in discussing intimate sexual matters, but translates into a lack of education and a reluctance among nurses to address sexual health needs when patients need their help most. The last decades have seen a vast increase in the number of research articles focused on sexual health needs across the lifespan. From necessary assessment and teaching interventions for adolescents beginning to explore their sexual needs, to the management of sexual relationships among cognitively impaired older adults, the literature is becoming ripe with necessary information to help nurses to manage these needs and those of all populations in between. The result of this increase in the generation of knowledge may help to cross the divide and provide information that will empower nurses to address the essential elements of sexual health for patients across the lifespan. This will also provide the confidence to put knowledge into practice in both clinical and educational settings. Applied nursing research is pleased to present our contribution to reducing this knowledge gap by providing this special issue on sexuality. This special issue contains eight articles that span the age and population spectrums related to sexual health. We begin the special issue with an article entitled Young women's views on testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV as a risk reduction strategy in mutual and choice-restricted relationships. This research article, by Teitelman, Calhoun, Duncan, Washio and McDougal uses a qualitative approach to highlight interesting practices and choices around the sexuality of young urban women. Insights into how HIV testing is incorporated into relationships of choice-restricted young women are explored. Researchers Lee, Florez, Tariman, Riesche and McCarter provide the results of an integrative literature review concerning factors that influence risky sexual behaviors among Asian American adolescents. Five major factors that influence sexual behaviors among this population
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2015.06.014 0897-1897/© 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc.
are identified. Findings highlight the critical need for culturally sensitive sexual education programs that incorporate the identified influencing factors in order to increase awareness and prevention of sexually transmitted infections and teen pregnancy. Continuing on the theme of providing culturally sensitive sexual educational interventions for youth, Aronowitz, Ogunlade, Nwosu, and Gona report the feasibility and acceptability of LUMBA, an enhanced sexual communication intervention, among 12 African American mother–daughter dyads. Findings support the LUMBA intervention effectively impacted the domains of: sexual knowledge, confidence to talk, and openness of sexual communication between the African American mothers and their adolescent daughters. The most recent literature in the area of female sexual dysfunction related to diabetes as summarized by Phillips and Phillips, reviews existing literature on this important, yet often overlooked area of women's health. This content is valuable to support recognition, education and interventions for the holistic care of women. In a descriptive study by researchers, Erden and Kaya on Sexual Dysfunction And Anxiety Levels Of Type 2 Male Diabetics, 150 patients from Istanbul, Turkey completed standardized erectile dysfunction and anxiety scales. The results confirmed that a high number of diabetic patients had experienced erectile dysfunction, with low to moderate anxiety reported. Research by Steinke, Mosack and Hill considers the impact of medications, comorbidities and psychosocial factors on sexual activity after a cardiac event. In this mixed methods study of 211 cardiac patients, a number of cardiac medications adversely affected sexual activity. The combination of number of medications, education level, and income predicted significant amount of the variance in sexual activity. Use of Phosphodiesterase type 5 Inhibitors in Assisted Living and Home Care Settings is a research article by Iannino-Renz and Mager that brings readers up to date on the utilization of these medications, by older adults with erectile dysfunction. The results are both complex and compelling and will foster excellent discussion of whether we are truly addressing the sexual health needs of our older population. Finally, Roney and Kazer report findings from their descriptive, qualitative pilot study in which they glean insights into the sexual health experiences and concerns of adults aged 60 years or older. Geriatric Sexual Experiences: The Seniors Tell All informs practitioners to take an active role in addressing sexuality in older adults as a means to providing complete physical and mental health care. As guest editors, we hope this special issue informs the reader about current sexual health concerns crossing the life span and clinical settings. Addressing this important topic may lead to greater
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Guest Editorial / Applied Nursing Research 28 (2015) 213–214
quality of life in some populations, and may prevent unintended pregnancy, illness or disease for others. Regardless of age, culturally sensitive sexual health and wellbeing must be an essential component of the health care provider's conversation with patients and families.
Eileen R. O'Shea, DNP, APRN1 Sally O’Toole Gerard, DNP, RN1 Meredith Wallace Kazer, PhD, APRN1 Fairfield University, School of Nursing, 1073 North Benson Road 1 Tel.: +1 203 254 4000x2700.
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Applied Nursing Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apnr
Guest Editorial
Addressing changing sexual health needs through the lifespan
Sexuality is a continued human need that begins in adolescence and extends through older adulthood. In optimum states of health and wellness, sexuality may be addressed privately between a couple. However, the risk for sexually transmitted diseases, ranging from Herpes Simplex to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) forces the discussion away from the sexual dyad into a healthcare context. In addition, the presence of illness often makes the fulfillment of sexual needs difficult and mandates the involvement of nurses and other members of the interprofessional team in order to achieve and maintain sexual health. Despite the great need for nurses and other healthcare providers to conduct sexual assessments and implement plans of care surrounding sexual health, they are reluctant to do so. Historically, sexual health needs are not often viewed with the same priority, as other health needs. This may be because of embarrassment inherent in discussing intimate sexual matters, but translates into a lack of education and a reluctance among nurses to address sexual health needs when patients need their help most. The last decades have seen a vast increase in the number of research articles focused on sexual health needs across the lifespan. From necessary assessment and teaching interventions for adolescents beginning to explore their sexual needs, to the management of sexual relationships among cognitively impaired older adults, the literature is becoming ripe with necessary information to help nurses to manage these needs and those of all populations in between. The result of this increase in the generation of knowledge may help to cross the divide and provide information that will empower nurses to address the essential elements of sexual health for patients across the lifespan. This will also provide the confidence to put knowledge into practice in both clinical and educational settings. Applied nursing research is pleased to present our contribution to reducing this knowledge gap by providing this special issue on sexuality. This special issue contains eight articles that span the age and population spectrums related to sexual health. We begin the special issue with an article entitled Young women's views on testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV as a risk reduction strategy in mutual and choice-restricted relationships. This research article, by Teitelman, Calhoun, Duncan, Washio and McDougal uses a qualitative approach to highlight interesting practices and choices around the sexuality of young urban women. Insights into how HIV testing is incorporated into relationships of choice-restricted young women are explored. Researchers Lee, Florez, Tariman, Riesche and McCarter provide the results of an integrative literature review concerning factors that influence risky sexual behaviors among Asian American adolescents. Five major factors that influence sexual behaviors among this population
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2015.06.014 0897-1897/© 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc.
are identified. Findings highlight the critical need for culturally sensitive sexual education programs that incorporate the identified influencing factors in order to increase awareness and prevention of sexually transmitted infections and teen pregnancy. Continuing on the theme of providing culturally sensitive sexual educational interventions for youth, Aronowitz, Ogunlade, Nwosu, and Gona report the feasibility and acceptability of LUMBA, an enhanced sexual communication intervention, among 12 African American mother–daughter dyads. Findings support the LUMBA intervention effectively impacted the domains of: sexual knowledge, confidence to talk, and openness of sexual communication between the African American mothers and their adolescent daughters. The most recent literature in the area of female sexual dysfunction related to diabetes as summarized by Phillips and Phillips, reviews existing literature on this important, yet often overlooked area of women's health. This content is valuable to support recognition, education and interventions for the holistic care of women. In a descriptive study by researchers, Erden and Kaya on Sexual Dysfunction And Anxiety Levels Of Type 2 Male Diabetics, 150 patients from Istanbul, Turkey completed standardized erectile dysfunction and anxiety scales. The results confirmed that a high number of diabetic patients had experienced erectile dysfunction, with low to moderate anxiety reported. Research by Steinke, Mosack and Hill considers the impact of medications, comorbidities and psychosocial factors on sexual activity after a cardiac event. In this mixed methods study of 211 cardiac patients, a number of cardiac medications adversely affected sexual activity. The combination of number of medications, education level, and income predicted significant amount of the variance in sexual activity. Use of Phosphodiesterase type 5 Inhibitors in Assisted Living and Home Care Settings is a research article by Iannino-Renz and Mager that brings readers up to date on the utilization of these medications, by older adults with erectile dysfunction. The results are both complex and compelling and will foster excellent discussion of whether we are truly addressing the sexual health needs of our older population. Finally, Roney and Kazer report findings from their descriptive, qualitative pilot study in which they glean insights into the sexual health experiences and concerns of adults aged 60 years or older. Geriatric Sexual Experiences: The Seniors Tell All informs practitioners to take an active role in addressing sexuality in older adults as a means to providing complete physical and mental health care. As guest editors, we hope this special issue informs the reader about current sexual health concerns crossing the life span and clinical settings. Addressing this important topic may lead to greater
214
Guest Editorial / Applied Nursing Research 28 (2015) 213–214
quality of life in some populations, and may prevent unintended pregnancy, illness or disease for others. Regardless of age, culturally sensitive sexual health and wellbeing must be an essential component of the health care provider's conversation with patients and families.
Eileen R. O'Shea, DNP, APRN1 Sally O’Toole Gerard, DNP, RN1 Meredith Wallace Kazer, PhD, APRN1 Fairfield University, School of Nursing, 1073 North Benson Road 1 Tel.: +1 203 254 4000x2700.
