Document Type (Journals)
Original Research
Abstract
Disability and chronic disease can have a profound effect on individuals’ sexuality and sexual health, resulting in decreased quality of life for many. While sexuality and sexual health are identified within the domain of occupational therapy (OT), this topic is not routinely addressed in clinical practice. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perceived needs, facilitators, and barriers to addressing sexuality in clinical practice by 10 graduate OT students recruited from one Western New York (WNY) university. Semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted utilizing a researcher developed interview guide. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was used as the conceptual framework for the study. Data were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis, followed by mapping the identified themes deductively to the established domains of the TDF. Ten domains were identified as likely to influence whether or not sexuality is addressed in clinical practice, including knowledge, skills, social/professional role and identity, beliefs about capabilities and consequences, intentions, environmental context and resources, social influences, emotions, and behavior regulation. The results highlight the barriers, facilitators, and action steps, as perceived by OT students, that are needed in order to effectively address sexuality in clinical practice, including increasing sexual health curriculum within OT education, providing opportunities for practice and experience, and integrating sexual content into routine practice.
Biography
Dr. Keren Shavit-Buckley, EdD, MS, OTR/L has over 15 years of clinical experience working in various adult rehabilitation settings with a focus on neurorehabilitation. Her work extends to the classroom where she teaches neurorehabilitation, kinesiology, human growth and development, and healthcare delivery systems in occupational therapy. Her research centers around human sexuality and occupational therapy practice.
Dr. Amy Nwora, Ph.D., OTR has over 20 years of clinical experience in pre-school/school-based treatment and psychosocial disability in children. She is currently the Program Director for the Occupational Therapy Department at D’Youville University, where her teaching focuses on research methodology. Research pursuits include: treatment approaches for ASD and student perceptions of the school environment.
Dr. Renee Cadzow, Ph.D. is formally trained in biological anthropology, and has researched health disparities in the western New York region for nearly 20 years. She brings this research to the classroom where she teaches in various health professions on the culture of healthcare, culturally responsive care, communications, bioethics, and social determinants of health.
Dr. Bryan M. Gee, Ph.D., OTD, OTR/L, BCP, CLA, FAOTA has published over 40 peer-reviewed research articles and over 80 national presentations on sensory-based interventions, therapy dosage and therapy-related practice patterns, parent education and training, and sensory processing. Dr. Gee is an assistant editor with the OJOT, an associate editor with the AOTA and sits on AOTA’s Commission on Education.
Declaration of Interest
This study was funded by D’Youville University, who is also the employer for Dr. Shavit-Buckley, Dr. Nwora, and Dr. Cadzow.
Recommended Citation
Shavit-Buckley, K., Nwora, A. J., Cadzow, R., & Gee, B. M. (2024). Addressing Sexuality in Occupational Therapy Practice: A Qualitative Exploration of Students’ Needs, Barriers, and Facilitators. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 8 (3). Retrieved from https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol8/iss3/8
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