Approach to sexuality among older adults for Primary Health Care professionals

TL;DR

This study explores how healthcare professionals in primary care address sexuality among older adults and finds that cultural barriers and stereotypes hinder open discussions.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the challenges healthcare professionals face when discussing sexuality with older adults and highlights the need for cultural change.

Findings

Healthcare professionals face difficulties in addressing sexuality among older adults.

The study identifies cultural and social barriers that reinforce the stereotype of older adults as asexual.

Professionals suggest the need to include sexuality in care planning to improve patient care.

Abstract

to reveal Primary Health Care professionals’ experience regarding the approach to sexuality among older adults.

this is exploratory research with a qualitative approach, carried out with 40 healthcare professionals, including physicians and nurses, who participated in a semi-structured interview. The interviews were recorded and analyzed using the thematic content analysis technique.

the data were analyzed and grouped into five empirical categories: Descriptions of sexuality; Difficulties in addressing sexuality; Importance of addressing sexuality among older adults; Professional indicated to address sexuality; and Older adults’ perceptions about sexuality according to healthcare professionals.

the study demonstrated that professionals face difficulties in addressing sexuality among older adults, which reinforces the stereotype of asexuality. Therefore, it is necessary to seek to address this issue in care planning actions and seek to overcome related cultural and social barriers.

desvelar a vivência dos profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde sobre abordagem da sexualidade entre as pessoas idosas.

trata-se de pesquisa exploratória de abordagem qualitativa, realizada com 40 profissionais de saúde, entre médicos e enfermeiros, que participaram de uma entrevista semiestruturada. As entrevistas foram gravadas e analisadas por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo temática.

os dados foram analisados e agrupados em cinco categorias empíricas: Descrições sobre sexualidade; Dificuldades para abordar a sexualidade; Importância de abordar a sexualidade entre os idosos; Profissional indicado para abordar a sexualidade; e Percepções dos idosos sobre a sexualidade segundo os profissionais de saúde.

o estudo demonstrou que os profissionais enfrentam dificuldades para abordar a sexualidade entre as pessoas idosas, o que reforça o estereótipo de assexuado. Portanto, faz-se necessário buscar pautar essa temática nas ações de planejamento da assistência e buscar superar as barreiras culturais e sociais relacionadas.