Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
Disabil Rehabil. 2013 Jan;35(1):73-80. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2012.688920. Epub 2012 Jun 2.
To examine occupational therapists' attitudes and beliefs towards addressing clients' sexuality and sexual needs during everyday practice.
A cross-sectional internet based survey was conducted among a convenience sample (n = 120) of occupational therapists working in Ireland. Respondents' perceived knowledge, awareness and confidence to address sexuality were examined. Respondents also reported current practice relating to addressing sexuality.
Sexuality although considered a legitimate area of practice was rarely addressed by occupational therapists. Participants reported low levels of awareness, knowledge and confidence relating to addressing client sexuality. Specific barriers identified by participants to addressing sexuality include lack of training, perceived lack of readiness of the client, client's age and marital status, perceived appropriateness of sexuality for the client.
Occupational therapists in Ireland appear to be ambivalent towards the inclusion of sexuality as part of practice. Current practice rarely includes clients' sexual needs and appears to be influenced by a hetro-normative conservative discourse of sexuality. Additional training and education, which challenges current assumptions relating to sexuality, is required to ensure that the needs of people with illness and disability are met.
探讨职业治疗师在日常实践中对待患者性问题和性需求的态度和信念。
采用横断面基于互联网的调查方法，对爱尔兰的职业治疗师便利样本（n=120）进行调查。调查了受访者对性问题的认知、意识和处理自信心。受访者还报告了目前与性问题相关的治疗实践。
尽管性问题被认为是一个合法的治疗领域，但职业治疗师很少涉及这一问题。参与者报告称，他们对治疗客户性问题的意识、知识和信心水平较低。参与者认为存在一些障碍，包括缺乏培训、客户准备不足、客户年龄和婚姻状况、性问题对客户的适当性等。
爱尔兰的职业治疗师似乎对将性问题纳入治疗实践持矛盾态度。目前的治疗实践很少包括客户的性需求，并且似乎受到性问题的异性恋和保守话语的影响。需要进行额外的培训和教育，以挑战当前与性问题相关的假设，从而确保满足患有疾病和残疾的人群的需求。
