Sexual attitudes of hospital personnel: a model for continuing education.

Abstract

The approach of role playing has been used in the department of behavioral medicine and psychiatry at the West Virginia University Medical Center to help staff persons grow professionally in areas in which factual knowledge is not needed but an opportunity to review evaluate and perhaps change attitudinal stances may be required. The problem at the West Virginia University Hospital was the discomfort and inadequacy felt by nursing staff when confronted by sexual acting-out. The nurses requested a program to help them learn to deal with the problem. With the agreement of the nurses it was decided to use behavior rehearsal techniques to alleviate the feelings of discomfort they experience. At 1st several demonstrations were conducted with groups of between 25-40 people in order to alleviate anxiety. The nursing staff and faculty of the department of behavioral medicine and psychiatry initiated the sessions. Later the opportunity was offered to practice discussing sexual matters with another professional acting as a patient among smaller groups of from 6 to 8 people. After a number of role-playing situations had been observed the group developed the following outline of suggested behaviors: 1) the professional should be aware of the 1st hint that a patient wishes to discuss his or her sexual needs and should deal with the issue promptly 2) the professional should make it clear to the patient that he or she understands that anyone who has been hospitalized for a prolonged period of time would have sexual needs and frustrations 3) the relationship between the professional and the patient should be defined by the professional in a very clear and unambiguous manner and 4) professionals who find it embarrassing to discuss sexual matters with their patients even after practice sessions should admit their embarrassment to the patient and suggest willingness to find another professional who does feel comfortable with this issue. The large group demonstrations were well received and the participants indicated that their anxiety about dealing with this particular clinical situation diminished as they learned and practiced new behaviors for dealing with their own discomfort.