Abstract
Although sexual health is an important element of holistic health, healthcare professionals feel embarrassed and are not willing to address sexual concerns of patients. Poor knowledge and conservative attitudes regarding sexuality are two major obstacles to providing sexual healthcare. This study organized a 9-hour brief sexuality education program in a nursing school in Hong Kong to promote general knowledge and positive attitudes regarding human sexuality. The brief sexuality education covered topics on theories of love, perspective of sex, sexual dysfunction, and topics on psychosocial factors of human sexuality. The mode of instruction included lecture, tutorials, and group project presentations. A total of 168 students participated in the education program and 53 students who did not join the program served as a comparison group. Measures of general sexual knowledge and general sexual attitudes were administered to both groups of students before the educational program and two weeks after the completion of the program. Baseline measurement revealed that nursing students’ general sexual knowledge was inadequate and they hold a rather neutral attitude towards sexuality. After participation in the education program, participants’ correct answers to the general sexual knowledge scale raised from 53% to 91%. General sexual attitudes became more liberal and positive. No significant changes in sexual knowledge and attitudes were observed in students of the comparison group. Efficacy of the brief sexuality education was confirmed. With good sexual knowledge and positive sexual attitudes, students are expected to be more willing and efficient in the delivery of sexual healthcare services.
Author Information
Hoi Nga Ng, Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Hong Kong
Kam Weng Boey, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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