Professionalization of staff in long-term inpatient care in dealing with sexuality

The sexuality of older people in long-term residential care remains a taboo topic, often met with uncertainty and prejudice among care staff. Many facilities lack clear guidelines and training, leading to restrictions on residents' sexual self-determination. Professionalization in this area can be improved through targeted education. This study investigates the effects of a profession-specific workshop on handling sexuality in long-term care. Using a pre-post mixed-methods design, 27 nursing staff members were surveyed before and after the workshop with a psychometric questionnaire (BS-SWE). Additionally, qualitative data was gathered through observations and content analysis. Findings show varied responses to the topic: some staff engaged openly, while others found it uncomfortable. Challenges included dealing with assaultive behavior, cultural differences, and ethical concerns. Participants emphasized the need for further training, increased privacy for residents, and better documentation of incidents. Quantitative results revealed a significant increase (p < .001, d = .865) in job-specific self-efficacy expectations, shifting from a lower to an upper average range compared to norm values. Since sexual issues frequently arise in nursing care, systematic preparation and destigmatization are essential for professional practice. Sexual psychology workshops effectively enhance self-efficacy, though ethical issues such as documentation and sexually transmitted diseases require further attention.