Professional and clinical differences amongst clinicians dealing with sexual problems in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Abstract The varied practices of physicians, psychologists, nurses and therapists were recorded as part of a collaboration between seven European countries. This paper describes sexual and relationship problems presented by patients to UK clinicians working in the field of human sexuality. Differences in the professional groups and approaches towards treating these problems by physicians and non-physicians are reported and discussed. The majority of clinicians working in human sexuality within the United Kingdom are female non-physicians. Nurses and marital counsellors were the largest professional group within the multidisciplinary profession of sexology working in the United Kingdom. Fewer UK clinicians have undergone training in sexology that their European counterparts and only 46% of clinicians working in the field describe themselves as a sexologist or sex therapist. The vast majority of clinicians did not devote more than a quarter of their work time to sexual problems and sexual dysfunction.