Knowledge of professionals about sexuality of the ostomyzed

Abstract

Background: An ostomy significantly influences a person's life, altering their biopsychosocial and sexual sphere and affecting their interpersonal relationships. Materials and methods: Through an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study, with a questionnaire aimed at professionals from a health area in Madrid, we analyzed: sociodemographic variables, knowledge of the professionals on the subject, referral of the patient according to the professional's assessment and feelings that the subject under study produces in the patient and in professionals. Results: 49% claimed to have no knowledge about sexuality of the ostomyzed patients. 55.9% of those surveyed consider that the healthcare provider is the one who should introduce the topic of sexuality during the clinical interview. 48.5 and 85.2% are unaware of treatments for male and female sexual dysfunction, respectively. Conclusions: The data show that the training provided in the university centers is insufficient to deal effectively with this issue in the medical consultation. The participants manifest null or minimal knowledge about the sexual sphere in ostomized patients. Knowledge deficiencies are detected in relation to the sexuality of the ostomized patient, difficulty in talking about sex with these patients, and the importance that sanitary professionals give to the patient's sexual sphere, among others.