A study on elderly sexuality: knowledge, attitudes, and image of care staff in nursing homes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was the examination of nursing home care staff's knowledge, attitudes, and image of elderly sexuality and the determination of a possible relationship among them. Nurses and care workers from five nursing homes in Okinawa, Japan volunteered to participate the study. One hundred fifty-two care staff answered and returned the self-administered packet for a response rate of 74.5%, with 126 of the respondents completing the questions appropriately. The packet included questionnaires containing demographic characteristics, institutional factors, the Japanese version of Aging Sexuality Attitudes and Knowledge Scale (ASKASJ) and a Semantic Differential (SD) technique for assessment of respondents' image of elderly sexuality. A computer software package, the SPSS, statistically examined average scores of knowledge, attitudes, and image on elderly sexuality. Additionally, a multiple regression analysis examined variables related to the knowledge, attitudes, and image. Pearson's correlation coefficient was utilized for further assessment of the relationship among them. The study found that "experience of learning elderly sexuality " was significantly related to knowledge, attitudes, and image of elderly sexuality. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between knowledge and attitude scores (r=0.51), knowledge and image (r=0.48), and attitude and image (r=0.38). These findings indicate that education is a key to increasing care staff's knowledge, positive image and attitudes on elderly sexuality. However, only 31.7% of the respondents received education related to elderly sexuality, mostly from sources outside the school setting. We point out the importance of incorporating the topic of elderly sexuality in educational programs. Japanese gerontological nursing educators need to encourage formal inservice programs for care staff and develop school curriculums for nursing students on sexuality in the aged.