The effectiveness of a sexuality training program for the interdisciplinary spinal cord injury rehabilitation team

Abstract

While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the interdisciplinary team rarely receives training in this area. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a consumer-driven sexuality training program in improving staff knowledge, comfort (general and personal) and attitudes. Using a local needs assessment to identify training needs and the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model as a training framework, a sexuality training program was developed in one Australian SCI service. A randomized controlled trial was conducted and significant improvement was found in all domains for the treatment group - Knowledge(χ2= 46.141, p< 0.001), Comfort (χ2= 23.338, p< 0.001), Approach(χ2= 23.925, p< 0.001) and Attitude (χ2= 15.235, p< 0.001) compared to the control group. Changes were found to be maintained at three month follow-up - Knowledge (Z=-5.116, p< 0.001), Comfort (Z=-3.953, p< 0.001), Approach (Z=-4.103, p< 0.001) and Attitudes (Z=-2.655, p< 0.001). These results support the use of an individualized needs-based sexuality training program in fostering staff knowledge, comfort and attitudinal change in an interdisciplinary SCI rehabilitation service. © 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.