Sexual health in diabetes care is a ‘hot topic’–A qualitative study with Diabetes Specialist Nurses

Abstract

AbstractAimThe aim of this study is to illuminate Diabetes Specialist Nurses' experiences of having a conversation about sexual health with adults with diabetes.BackgroundIt is well known that diabetes mellitus may affect a person's sexual function. Interview studies with men and women living with diabetes show that conversations about sexual health are important. However, research on Diabetes Specialist Nurses' experiences of having such conversations is limited.DesignA qualitative approach, with individual interviews, was used.MethodPurposive sampling was used to recruit 12 informants from adult diabetes care, within primary health care and within hospital settings in southern Sweden, between September and November 2021. A qualitative latent content analysis was used for data analysis. The COREQ guidelines were followed to ensure rigour for this study.ResultsOne theme, ‘Sexual health is a hot topic’, could be understood in light of three categories: ‘Obstructive factors that complicate the conversation’, ‘Promoting factors that facilitate the conversation’ and ‘Improvements that may facilitate the conversation’. The findings embrace the Diabetes Specialist Nurses' experiences of having a conversation about sexual health with persons with diabetes.ConclusionsDiabetes Specialist Nurses often experience difficulty having a conversation about sexual health with their patients. The findings provide a deeper understanding of their experiences of obstructive as well as promoting factors related to conversations about what is considered a ‘hot topic’.Relevance to Clinical PracticeTo increase knowledge on how to have a conversation about sexual health within diabetes care, support is needed from the organisation; the organisation could, for instance, support the diabetes care staff in gaining education and training regarding sexual health.Patient or Public ContributionNot applicable due to the current method.