Nurses' knowledge and attitudes about sexuality in health care — a review of the literature

Abstract

This article considers definitions of sexuality in its widest sense, including biological, psychological and social aspects. The relevance of sexuality to health care is reviewed, and attitudes towards sexuality are discussed. Finally, previous research on sexuality in the nursing curriculum is considered, and the view is taken that the potential role that schools of nursing could play in dismantling traditional views on sexuality and sex roles cannot be understated. However, the topic seems to feature in nursing curricula either superficially or not at all. The authors propose that curricula therefore need to be developed to encompass sexuality and its importance in both nursing care and the personal development of nurses themselves.