Sexual Health in Men With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: A Review and Recommendations for Primary Health-Care Providers
Sexual health has been well established as a salient priority for men following traumatic spinal cord injury; yet, it continues to be under-addressed by health-care providers in both inpatient and community settings. Given that most men with traumatic spinal cord injuries will be followed by communi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2018-11-01
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| Series: | American Journal of Men's Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988318790883 |
| _version_ | 1818246775040901120 |
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| author | Kirsten Aikman MN-NP, MS, NP(F) John L. Oliffe PhD, M.Ed, RN Mary T. Kelly MA Fairleth McCuaig MSN, NP(F) |
| author_facet | Kirsten Aikman MN-NP, MS, NP(F) John L. Oliffe PhD, M.Ed, RN Mary T. Kelly MA Fairleth McCuaig MSN, NP(F) |
| author_sort | Kirsten Aikman MN-NP, MS, NP(F) |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sexual health has been well established as a salient priority for men following traumatic spinal cord injury; yet, it continues to be under-addressed by health-care providers in both inpatient and community settings. Given that most men with traumatic spinal cord injuries will be followed by community-based primary health-care providers, including family physicians and nurse practitioners, for their long-term health-care needs, these clinicians are well positioned to address ongoing sexual health issues with this population. A scoping review of literature published between 2007 and 2017 inclusive was undertaken to identify what is known about the sexual health of men with spinal cord injuries. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria. The findings are presented in four themes: (a) patterns and diversity of sexual health concerns; (b) sexual health recovery as an ongoing priority; (c) clinical barriers to addressing sexual health concerns, and (d) recommended interventions and strategies for primary health-care providers. The findings indicate that physiological changes as well as psychological and social factors influence men’s sexual function following spinal cord injury, and that sexual health recovery is an enduring rehabilitation priority. Several barriers including lack of sexual rehabilitation services and consensus around clinician roles, and societal stigmas related to disability and sexuality impede treatment. Attention to sexual health recovery has mainly focused on formal rehabilitation settings; however, many evidence-based clinical strategies and resources are relevant to and adaptable for primary care providers caring for these men in the community. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:54:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0bb49e95933a4ddc8e7735a5de82879d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1557-9883 1557-9891 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:54:10Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | American Journal of Men's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-0bb49e95933a4ddc8e7735a5de82879d2022-12-22T00:20:56ZengSAGE PublishingAmerican Journal of Men's Health1557-98831557-98912018-11-011210.1177/1557988318790883Sexual Health in Men With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: A Review and Recommendations for Primary Health-Care ProvidersKirsten Aikman MN-NP, MS, NP(F)0John L. Oliffe PhD, M.Ed, RN1Mary T. Kelly MA2Fairleth McCuaig MSN, NP(F)3School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaSexual health has been well established as a salient priority for men following traumatic spinal cord injury; yet, it continues to be under-addressed by health-care providers in both inpatient and community settings. Given that most men with traumatic spinal cord injuries will be followed by community-based primary health-care providers, including family physicians and nurse practitioners, for their long-term health-care needs, these clinicians are well positioned to address ongoing sexual health issues with this population. A scoping review of literature published between 2007 and 2017 inclusive was undertaken to identify what is known about the sexual health of men with spinal cord injuries. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria. The findings are presented in four themes: (a) patterns and diversity of sexual health concerns; (b) sexual health recovery as an ongoing priority; (c) clinical barriers to addressing sexual health concerns, and (d) recommended interventions and strategies for primary health-care providers. The findings indicate that physiological changes as well as psychological and social factors influence men’s sexual function following spinal cord injury, and that sexual health recovery is an enduring rehabilitation priority. Several barriers including lack of sexual rehabilitation services and consensus around clinician roles, and societal stigmas related to disability and sexuality impede treatment. Attention to sexual health recovery has mainly focused on formal rehabilitation settings; however, many evidence-based clinical strategies and resources are relevant to and adaptable for primary care providers caring for these men in the community.https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988318790883 |
| spellingShingle | Kirsten Aikman MN-NP, MS, NP(F) John L. Oliffe PhD, M.Ed, RN Mary T. Kelly MA Fairleth McCuaig MSN, NP(F) Sexual Health in Men With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: A Review and Recommendations for Primary Health-Care Providers American Journal of Men's Health |
| title | Sexual Health in Men With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: A Review and Recommendations for Primary Health-Care Providers |
| title_full | Sexual Health in Men With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: A Review and Recommendations for Primary Health-Care Providers |
| title_fullStr | Sexual Health in Men With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: A Review and Recommendations for Primary Health-Care Providers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual Health in Men With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: A Review and Recommendations for Primary Health-Care Providers |
| title_short | Sexual Health in Men With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: A Review and Recommendations for Primary Health-Care Providers |
| title_sort | sexual health in men with traumatic spinal cord injuries a review and recommendations for primary health care providers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988318790883 |
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