Paper
Saturday, 22 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Care of the Adult Mental Health Patient
The Integration of Sexuality Needs into Practice and Policy
Mary-Lou Martin, BScN, MScN, MEd and Anne Howe, RN, MHSc. St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Learning Objective #1: Discuss facilitators and barriers to healthy sexuality for hospitalized clients with a mental disorder
Learning Objective #2: Describe the perceptions of clients and staff about sexuality issues and how this knowledge and experience can be integrated into practice and policy
INTEGRATING SEXUALITY NEEDS INTO PRACTICE AND POLICY This presentation will report on the integration of sexuality needs into practice and policy through program evaluation in a tertiary and acute care mental health program. Sexuality is an inherent part of the person and it is also an important aspect of recovery. The Mental Health Program undertook a review of current policies and practices related to patient sexuality. A Patient Sexuality Working Group which included both consumers and staff was formed to: review current practice and policies regarding patient sexuality; provide recommendations for the development of policies related to sexuality activity in hospital; provide recommendations for staff and patient education; and recommend strategies to improve patient outcome. An extensive literature review was conducted. A comprehensive review of other's policies on sexuality was completed. Focus groups were held with clients and staff to explore their perceptions about sexuality issues in hospital. Some of the themes that emerged included: Sexuality is an important aspect of an individual's health that needs to be addressed, however it is often not explored in a meaningful way until a sexual issue emerges; and The therapeutic effectiveness of the staff/patient relationship when it involves patient sexuality issues is dependent on the patient's and staff's trust and comfort level, and the staff's knowledge and experience in meeting the sexuality needs of patients. Other themes will be shared and discussed. The knowledge and experience of clients and staff is crucial to program evaluation and the integration of best practice in the formulation of policy, the education of clients and staff and the delivery of evidence based care.

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