Are older patients comfortable discussing sexual health with nurses?

Sexual health is an important component of quality of life, yet practitioners do not routinely query older adults about their sexual health concerns.

The aims of this study were to ascertain whether older adults (a) have unanswered questions about their sexual health; (b) are asked about their sexual health, disease, and medications that could affect their sexual health and their knowledge of STDs and HIV/AIDS; (c) would welcome a care provider initiating the conversation about their sexual health; (d) would be comfortable with discussing their sexual health with a nurse; and (e) identify some barriers to discussing sexual health for the older adult.

This was a quantitative cross-sectional study that used a 24-item investigator-developed survey which was distributed to residents of retirement communities and participants in fitness classes in the Puget Sound, Washington, region.

A total of 101 surveys were completed. The participants' average age was 81 years (range = 62-96 years); 70.3% were women (n = 71) and 25.7% were men (n = 26). When asked what sexual health meant, participants said it encompassed physical pleasure with one's partner or oneself and psychological and physiological health; 47.1% (n = 41) want to be asked about their sexual health at their healthcare visit, and 86% (n = 78) reported that they were comfortable discussing sexual health and were not embarrassed or offended. Male respondents preferred discussing with a physician rather than a nurse (52.2%, p = .01, n = 12), whereas female respondents indicated that they were willing to talk with either a physician or a nurse (56.9%, p = .01, n = 37).

The results of this study have the potential to inform treatment approaches, improve outcomes, and enhance communication with older adults regarding issues of sexual health that impact quality of life.