Asking women with diabetes about sexual problems: An exploratory study of NHS professionals' attitudes and practice: A survey of healthcare professionals regarding communication and silences about sexual problems during the routine care of women with diabetes
Authors' conclusion
HCPs reported not asking women with diabetes about sexual problems during routine care. They described multiple factors reinforcing the silence about sexual health, including inadequate education and perceived social risk for individual HCPs who deviate from the patterns of topics usually discussed in diabetes consultations.
Study context
- Population
- UK NHS healthcare professionals, recruited via professional networks and social media
- Participants
- 111 eligible healthcare professionals (HCPs)
- Outcome
- HCPs' practice and attitudes towards asking women with DM about sexual health problems, including symptoms of FSD
Methodological detailsonline questionnaire, exploratory, mixed methods (thematic analysis of free text), Questionnaire piloted by 10 HCPs, Free text data analysed and reported thematically
- Online questionnaire
- Exploratory
- Mixed methods (thematic analysis of free text)
- Questionnaire piloted by 10 HCPs
- Free text data analysed and reported thematically
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Asking women with DM about sexual problems
- The majority of respondents did not ask women with DM about sexual problems
- Barriers to inquiry: inadequate training, time constraints, competing priorities, perceived likelihood that questions cause surprise or distress, belief that sexual problems are expected as women age, belief that female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is complex or untreatable with unclear management pathways
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Differences between men's and women's responses (2 questions)
- Significant differences in men and women's responses: men disagreed more strongly with prioritisation, and fewer reported routine inquiry about sexual problems
- Exploratory
Original publication
Asking women with diabetes about sexual problems: An exploratory study of NHS professionals' attitudes and practice: A survey of healthcare professionals regarding communication and silences about sexual problems during the routine care of women with diabetes. Diabet Med. Published 4 June 2024. doi:10.
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