The Pelvic Health Curricular Exposure Scale (PHCES): A Survey of Physical Therapy Students’ Comfort Discussing Sexual Health

Abstract

Background: As holistic, autonomous health care providers, physical therapists must be confident in discussing all aspects of health with patients, including sexual health. Lack of attention to patients’ sexual issues may result in aspects of health going unaddressed, leading to poor patient care. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between exposure to pelvic health content in physical therapy school curricula and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students’ comfort levels discussing sexual health issues with future patients. Study Design: Survey research report. Methods: A cluster sample of DPT students in the United States (n = 167) completed a novel tool, titled the Pelvic Health Curricular Exposure Scale (PHCES), as well as an adapted version of the Students’ Attitudes Towards Addressing Sexual Health (SA-SH) questionnaire. Results: Exposure to and comfort with pelvic floor dysfunction (p< .001; p< .001), obstetrical issues (p= .051; p< .001), colorectal health (p= .007; p< .001), and incontinence (p= .009; p< .001), as well as participating in a pelvic health elective (r pb = 0.05) or clinical experience (r pb < 0.003), positively correlated with comfort discussing sexual health with future patients. Conclusion: DPT programs should make a dedicated effort to implement pelvic health into the curriculum with an emphasis on topics such as pelvic floor dysfunction, obstetrical issues, colorectal health, and incontinence, as well as to provide students with pelvic health electives and clinical experiences. The Supplemental Digital Content video abstract for this article is available at: http://links.lww.com/JWHPT/A131