Horne, M orcid.org/0000-0002-6153-8547, Youell, J, Brown, L et al. (3 more authors) (2022) Feasibility and acceptability of an education and training e-resource to support the sexuality, intimacy and relationship needs of older care home residents: a mixed methods study. Age and Ageing, 51 (10). afac221. ISSN 0002-0729
Abstract
Background
sexuality, intimacy and relationship needs are often a neglected aspect of the care of older adults in residential care facilities. Improving awareness, knowledge and improving attitudes about these needs among care staff could enhance quality of care and lead to better outcomes for residents.
Objective
to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a co-designed education and training e-resource to help care staff support their residents’ sexuality, intimacy and relationship needs.
Methods
we delivered the education and training e-resource to five UK care homes over a 6-month period in a pre-post mixed methods study using surveys, focus groups and individual interviews.
Results
fifty-nine members of staff from participating care homes undertook the education and training e-resource. 18/59 (31%) of participants completed all six modules and the pre-post surveys. Eleven participants participated in focus groups/interviews to explore experiences of using the e-resource. The e-resource was successfully implemented in the study homes and found to be acceptable. We found preliminary evidence of positive changes in staff attitudes. Factors that facilitated implementation included support from the care home manager. Barriers identified included IT infrastructure and technology.
Conclusions
the findings provide initial evidence that a co-designed education and training e-resource raised awareness of, and improved attitudes towards, older adults’ sexuality and intimacy needs. This work provides the foundation for a next phase to establish the effectiveness of the e-resource on staff practice and resident outcomes.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2022. This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). |
Keywords: | sexuality, intimacy, education and training, residential care, care home, long-term care, older people |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Adult (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number The Abbeyfield Society 835 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 14 Sep 2022 17:47 |
Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2023 23:05 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1093/ageing/afac221 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:190789 |