The development of a scale to assess the training needs of professionals in providing sexuality rehabilitation following spinal cord injury

Résumé de l'auteur

[Authors' abstract]

The training needs of rehabilitation professionals in the area of sexuality and sexual function, particularly following spinal cord injury (SCI) has received little attention in the literature. Specifically, there is negligible theoretical discussion related to staff training needs, as well as a paucity of standardised scales to measure these needs. A conceptual model was developed encompassing staff knowledge, comfort, and attitudes towards sexuality following SCI. Using this model, a scale was developed, evaluated, and refined. Factor analysis supported the construct validity of the scale in measuring the existing conceptual model outlined but highlighted the existence of a separate construct related to personal approaches from clients. The subsequently named Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS) demonstrated high levels of internal consistency across the four conceptual domains. The KCAASS has utility for rehabilitation facilities interested in identifying and targeting training initiatives related to addressing client sexuality needs following SCI.

Commentaire du Centre Ressources

The document is an article extracted from an Australian research on the development of a tool to assess needs of professionals working in the disability field, professionals that may need to deal with the issue of the reconstruction of the sexuality of the spinal cord injured. The questionnaire was carried out within the service of spinal cord injured in Queensland, Australia. On the 92 professionals of the service, 90 agreed to answer. Among the respondents, 58 were nurses. The results of the questionnaire reveal that professionals are concerned about personal approaches from the patients. Requests for non-professional meetings to the staff, patients that masturbate within the service, requests from patients to have sex with the professionals are challenging the management of professionals. The document could be useful for researchers and professionals in the field of disabilities willing to assess the difficulties and knowledge of professionals concerning the issue of sexuality and disabilities in a rehabilitation service.

[Commentaire en français]
Le document est un article issu d’une recherche australienne sur le développement d’un outil d’évaluation des besoins de professionnels dans le domaine du handicap, amenés à aborder la question de la reconstruction de la sexualité avec des blessés médullaires.La passation du questionnaire a été réalisée au sein du service des blessés médullaires du Queensland, en Australie. Sur les 92 professionnels du service, 90 ont accepté. Les répondants incluaient notamment 58 infirmiers.Les résultats du questionnaire dévoilent notamment une préoccupation des professionnels au sujet d’approches personnelles de la part des patients. Des demandes de rendez-vous non-professionnels adressées au personnel, des pratiques sexuelles visibles (masturbation) des patients au sein du service, des demandes de patients pour avoir des rapports sexuels avec les professionnels posent des difficultés de gestion aux professionnels. Le document sera utile aux chercheurs et professionnels dans le champ du handicap souhaitant évaluer les difficultés et connaissances de professionnels vis-à-vis de la question de la sexualité et du handicap dans un service de rééducation.