Effectiveness of a Sexuality Workshop for Nurse Aides in Long-Term Care Facilities

Abstract

Background: In long-term care facilities, there are frequent conflicts related to elderly residents’ sexual expression. Nurse aides usually handle such conflicts with negative or negligent attitudes; therefore, elderly sexuality is considered “problem behavior” and is stigmatized. Objectives: This study aimed to improve elderly residents’ quality of sexual life by enhancing nurse aides’ knowledge and attitudes toward elderly sexuality through sexuality workshops. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 64 nurse aides and 58 residents, who were divided into two groups, i.e., an experimental group and a control group, according to the floor where the residents resided. The nurse aides in the experimental group participated in sexuality workshops and were compared with those in the control group with respect to their knowledge of and attitudes toward sexuality; the residents’ quality of sexual life was also compared between groups. Results: Compared with the control group, in the experimental group, the nurse aides’ knowledge of and attitudes toward elderly sexuality as well as the residents’ quality of sexual life significantly and continually improved after the sexuality workshops. Conclusion: The four-week sexuality workshop is effective and may be used as an example in developing occupational education programs regarding elderly sexuality in long-term care facilities.