Lopes Beatriz F, Tavares Inês, Gomes Ana L Q

(156) WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO TALK ABOUT SEX? A QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FAMILY DOCTORS’ VIEWS ON THE NEEDS AND BARRIERS TO DEAL WITH THEIR PATIENTS’ SEXUAL HEALTH

  • Urology
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
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Abstract Objectives Evidence shows a lack of training on sexuality in both pre and postgraduate Medicine levels, leading to these professionals’ insecurity in dealing with their patients’ sexual problems. Yet, Family Doctors have a central role in the promotion and education for sexual health of the community. The aim of this study is to identify the main needs and barriers identified by Portuguese Family Doctors in addressing sexuality in their professional context; to assess the receptiveness of Family Doctors to using a training program on sexuality. Methods We conducted 2 focus groups with 10 Portuguese Family Doctors. Both focus groups had a maximum duration of 90 minutes and were moderated by two project researchers. The inclusion criteria were the ability to give informed consent, being Family Doctors with clinical activity and have Portuguese nationality. Professionals participating in another sexuality research study were excluded. Confidentiality and fundamental ethical requirements were respected. The data collected was processed using Braun and Clarke's thematic content analysis and it was anonymized and analyzed using the NVivo Software. Results The results of this study indicated that Family Doctors identified several needs and barriers to the management of sexuality in their professional context, which were informed by both individual and contextual factors. Employing a qualitative methodology enabled us to explore the subjective experiences in dealing with their patients’ sexuality, as constructions dependent on individual context, obtaining in-depth understanding of its complexity. Conclusions The information collected will serve as basis for the content development of a training program on sexuality for Family Doctors. We believe that the present study will have ethical, social, and political implications, contributing to the promotion of sexual health among health professionals and the general population. Conflicts of Interest The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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