Nursing practices on sexual health for people with neurological disorders: A narrative review

Sandrine Lefebvre; Lorraine Cousin; Julie Bourmaleau; Séverine Rohé; Julie Devictor; Philippe Martin; Ljiljana Jovic

doi:10.1111/jocn.17318

Nursing practices on sexual health for people with neurological disorders: A narrative review

J Clin Nurs. 2024 Jul 5. doi: 10.1111/jocn.17318. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sandrine Lefebvre^{1

2}, Lorraine Cousin^{3

4

5}, Julie Bourmaleau⁶, Séverine Rohé⁷, Julie Devictor^{1

8}, Philippe Martin^{1

9

10}, Ljiljana Jovic¹

Affiliations

¹ Universite Paris Cite, INSERM, Paris, France.
² Care Management, Sorbonne Universite Faculte de Medecine Campus Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France.
³ APHP, L'unité de recherche clinique en économie de la santé (URC-Eco), Paris, France.
⁴ University of Paris, Patient-Reported Outcomes Unit (PROQOL), Paris, France.
⁵ Aix-Marseille University, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé and Traitement de l'Information Médicale (SESSTIM), Marseille, France.
⁶ Neurology Department, Sorbonne Universite Faculte de Medecine Campus Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France.
⁷ Anesthesia Service, Centre Hospitalier Sud Seine et Marne, Fontainebleau, France.
⁸ Department of Hepatology, Beaujon Hospital, Clichy, France.
⁹ Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Department, National Institute of Demographic Studies, Paris, France.
¹⁰ Paris-Saclay University, INSERM, Villejuif, France.

PMID: 38970146
DOI: 10.1111/jocn.17318

Abstract

Aims: To identify and describe nursing practices on the sexual health of people with neurological disorders.

Design: Narrative review.

Methods: Data were extracted from 1 January 2002, to 20 May 2021. Inclusion criteria were nursing practices, sexual health and people with neurological disorders. The main outcome measures were: context of nursing practice implementation (assumptions, knowledge, strategies and skills), facilitators of and barriers to addressing and treating the sexual health of people with neurological disorders, and benefits of nursing practices in sexual health. PRISMA reporting guidelines were used.

Data sources: PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect and CINAHL.

Results: In total, 926 articles were identified and nine were included. The involvement of nurses was recommended in most studies. Assumptions about the impact of neurology on sexuality and nurse's role in sexual healthcare, biopsychosocial knowledge, and skills (ethical, interpersonal, and technical) were highlighted. We found that the modes of knowledge proposed by Carper were mobilized in an unequal way. Sexual difficulties were the key focus and eroticization concerns were not addressed in any of the articles.

Conclusion: Several studies advocate nursing intervention; however, few accurately present, detail and evaluate sexual health nursing practices of patients with neurological pathologies. Literature describes practices structured around disorders rather than the potentials, fails to address the brake of eroticism and provides little information on the results of interventions.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care: Developing teaching programs on sexual health in nursing programs may be necessary if nurses are to support a diverse range of patients in an inclusive and positive manner. These programs should highlight the domain-specific knowledge that is mobilized.

Impact: Sexual health is a fundamental human right. Alterations in the nervous system have shown to affect sexual health, however, it is not often discussed among patients with neurological disorders, who are rarely provided with sexual health counselling. Our findings may impact healthcare professionals engaged in care with these patients.

Reporting method: PRISMA. No patient or public contribution.

Keywords: neurological disorders; nursing practices; sexual health.

Publication types

Review