Nursing students’ experiences of data collection on the expressing sexuality activity: a simulation-based qualitative study of behaviors, emotions, and barriers

Abstract Background Roper–Logan–Tierney’s Life Model is a holistic nursing model that addresses 12 life activities across an individual’s life cycle, the key factors influencing them, and the diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation components of the nursing process. The “Expressing Sexuality” activity is defined as one of these 12 life activities, encompassing an individual’s knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, sexual performance, and interpersonal relationships. While the assessment of sexuality is a fundamental area in nursing care, students frequently encounter emotional, informational, and cultural barriers during data collection. This study aims to enable nursing students to experience data collection within the scope of expressing sexuality activities through simulation-based training prepared under the most realistic conditions, and to reveal the underlying reasons for their emotions, behaviors, and perceived barriers. Method This study was conducted using a descriptive phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods. The study was conducted in a simulation center located in northern Türkiye between March and May 2024. 11 students studying in the third year of the nursing faculty participated in the study. The students’ data collection experiences throughout the simulation-based training within the scope of the expressing sexuality activity were examined using an individual in-depth interview technique. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method for descriptive phenomenological analysis. Results Three main themes, such as (I) Behaviors; (II) Emotions, and (III) Barriers, were determined as a result of the analysis. Students experienced difficulties communicating with patients during data collection and reported using silence and touch with the intention of providing emotional support. They also described feelings of embarrassment and anxiety. Students further reported the factors that make the data collection experience difficult within the scope of expressing sexuality activity as their own feelings about sexuality, lack of knowledge, social taboos, and perception of sexuality as a confidential issue. Conclusions It was concluded that nursing students encountered various barriers throughout the data collection experience within the scope of expressing sexuality activity and that this caused experiences such as difficulty in communicating with the patient, embarrassment, and anxiety.