Changes in students' knowledge and attitudes following a course in human sexuality: report of a pilot study

Eleven female undergraduate nursing students and 12 male undergraduates from a private southern university responded to a 163-item questionnaire, the Human Sexuality Knowledge and Attitude inventory, prior to and immediately following a formal course in human sexuality. The results of a pilot test indicated that improvement in respondents' total knowledge score (TOTSC) was correlated with completion of the course. No correlation existed between liberalization of attitudes toward sexuality and completion of the course. Demographic variables of age, sex, perception of self as "somewhat" or "slightly religious" and "somewhat liberal politically", and residence in small cities in the New England/Middle Atlantic area were significantly correlated with improvement of TOTSC. Demographic variables did not appear to affect liberalization of attitudes. The investigators concluded that the course is an effective model for assisting students to accumulate a knowledge base about sexuality. Although attitudinal change was not an immediate outcome of the course, perhaps this variable will change on a long-term basis.