Document Detail


Seeking medical help for sexual concerns in mid- and later life: a review of the literature.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21409708     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Research consistently reports that older people tend not to seek medical help for sexual concerns or difficulties. This article reviews the literature to examine help-seeking for, and doctor-patient interactions about, sexual problems in the middle and later life age groups. Twenty-five articles from 1999 to 2010 were identified and analyzed. Significant barriers to seeking medical help included psychosocial factors relating to the patient, such as thinking that sexual changes were "normal with ageing," and also to the doctor-for example, assuming that sex was less important to older patients than it was to their younger patients. Inadequate training at medical school for health care professionals (HCPs) was also identified as a barrier. People were more likely to seek help if their doctor had asked about sexual function during a routine visit sometime during the previous three years. However, doctors tended not to take a proactive approach to sexual health management, and indeed often had limited knowledge of later-life sexuality issues. There are clear implications for sexual well-being if the doctor does not ask and the patient does not tell. Providing education about later-life sexuality for HCPs is crucial if we are to meet the needs of older patients in useful and effective ways.
Authors:
Sharron Hinchliff; Merryn Gott
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of sex research     Volume:  48     ISSN:  1559-8519     ISO Abbreviation:  J Sex Res     Publication Date:  2011 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-03-16     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0062647     Medline TA:  J Sex Res     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  106-17     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield.
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