Sexuality behind clinic doors: experiences of healthcare professionals in primary care addressing sexuality with older people.
Background Sexual health in later life remains an overlooked area in healthcare. Despite being the first point of contact for most patients, primary care healthcare professionals (HCPs) rarely initiate discussions about sexuality with older adults (OAs). This study investigates how these HCPs talk a...
| Publicado en: | Age & Ageing Vol. 55; no. 7; pp. 1 - 11 |
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| Autores principales: | , , |
| Formato: | Artículo |
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Oxford University Press / USA
Jul2026
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=195867374&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ssf uiTerm: 195867374 longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson) uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00020729 AGA jtl: Age & Ageing issn: 00020729 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Jul2026 vid: 55 iid: 7 pid: 622 pub: Oxford University Press / USA artinfo: ui: 195867374 10.1093/ageing/afag219 ppf: 1 ppct: 10 formats: tig: atl: Sexuality behind clinic doors: experiences of healthcare professionals in primary care addressing sexuality with older people. aug: au: Kocurkova, Andrea Boos, Danielle De Cogger-Ward, Heather affil: School of Psychology, Sport Science & Wellbeing, College of Health and Science, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland University of Nottingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, B Floor, YANG Fujia Building, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham NG8 1BB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, B Floor, YANG Fujia Building, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham NG8 1BB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland su: England Qualitative research Time pressure Conversation Human sexuality Primary health care Interviewing Uncertainty Discussion Sound recordings Physician-patient relations Quality of life Psychosocial factors Sexual health National health services Research funding General practitioners Statistical sampling Physicians' attitudes Judgment sampling Thematic analysis Research methodology Human comfort sug: subj: Qualitative research Time pressure Conversation Human sexuality Primary health care Interviewing Uncertainty Discussion Sound recordings Physician-patient relations Quality of life Psychosocial factors Sexual health England Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling Integrated Record Production/Distribution Sound recording merchant wholesalers Record Production Offices of physicians Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) National health services Research funding General practitioners Statistical sampling Physicians' attitudes Judgment sampling Thematic analysis Research methodology Human comfort keyword: aged copyrightHolder:British Geriatrics Society copyrightYear:2026 healthcare professionals https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afag219 inLanguage:en older adults older people oral allergy syndrome overt aggression scale primary care primary health care publisher:Oxford University Press qualitative research sameAs:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42506889/ sexual health sexuality aged copyrightHolder:British Geriatrics Society copyrightYear:2026 healthcare professionals https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afag219 inLanguage:en older adults older people oral allergy syndrome overt aggression scale primary care primary health care publisher:Oxford University Press qualitative research sameAs:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42506889/ sexual health sexuality ab: Background Sexual health in later life remains an overlooked area in healthcare. Despite being the first point of contact for most patients, primary care healthcare professionals (HCPs) rarely initiate discussions about sexuality with older adults (OAs). This study investigates how these HCPs talk about sexuality in later life and examines the extent to which existing guidelines support inclusive, age-appropriate care. Objective To explore NHS primary care professionals' experiences of discussing sexuality with OAs, including the circumstances that prompt these conversations, the factors shaping them and the extent to which professionals use formal guidance in these discussions. Design A qualitative design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 HCPs in England. An inductive reflexive thematic analysis approach was used for data analysis. Results Three key themes were identified. First, unspoken assumptions, clinician discomfort and time pressures often limited discussions, creating uncertainty around how and when to address sexual health. Second, physical symptoms served as 'natural openers,' but such conversations maintained their medical focus, overlooking other aspects contributing to OAs' quality of life. Third, participants described minimal reliance on guidance, instead drawing on instinct or experience. Overall, discussions were reactive and shaped by competing clinical demands. Clinicians consistently expressed a need for clear, concise and psychologically informed tools and training. Conclusion This study highlights the need to normalise later-life sexual health discussions by attending to clinician discomfort and integrating inclusive practices into routine care. Recognising sexuality as important in later life may help challenge age-related assumptions in primary care. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: N holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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