Addressing sexuality in consultations with older adults in primary health care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v41i6.13740Keywords:
Sexuality, Elderly, Primary careAbstract
Introduction: Sexuality and the desire for intimacy are an integral part of human development and are present in all stages of life, contributing to physical and psychological balance. However, they are influenced by psychological, biological, and social factors. Despite the recent growing interest, sexuality among the elderly is still taboo, making it a crucial topic to be approached by the family doctor.
Objectives: The goal of this investigation is to evaluate the approach of sexuality in the elderly by family doctors.
Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. A questionnaire was applied to family physicians. A descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS® program.
Results: One hundred and twelve family physicians, residents, and specialists have participated. In the studied sample, sexuality is frequently discussed with the elderly only by 4.5% of the doctors, compared to the 19.6% seen within other age groups. There was a statistically significant difference in the approach to sexuality between residents and specialists being more frequently approached by specialists. Transversely, the sample refers difficulty of the elderly in approaching their sexuality. Biological alterations are the main reason for sexual inactivity (52.7%). Of the sample, 47.3% of the physicians believe that respect is the most valued sexuality component by their patients, and 68.8% consider that there are changes in the value of sexuality’s different components.
Conclusion: No other similar study was found in Portugal. Therefore, the matter of this study and its results are evident. The present investigation highlights the deficient approach to sexuality in the elderly. This should motivate other larger studies and the training of clinicians to improve the clinical practice of family doctors around this subject.
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