Sexual health teaching in basic science courses among medical students
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Authors
Santos, André Urdhamuck Teixeira
Spessoto, Luis César Fava
Fácio, Fernando Nestor Jr.
Issue Date
2021-01-18
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Teaching , Undergraduate Medicine , Sexual Health , Sexuality
Alternative Title
Abstract
Introduction:
Sexuality is a multifaceted and makes up part of the lives of all individuals.
Aim:
To evaluate the teaching of sexual health to students in the basic cycle of an undergraduate course in medicine.
Methods:
A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using primary data on the teaching of sexual health in the first 4 years of the course. The students were contacted personally and given a self-administrated questionnaire on the teaching of sexual health. The questionnaire was based on studies conducted with physicians and medical students regarding their educational background in sexual health. The degree of satisfaction regarding the learning process was determined using a ten-point scale; on which, a score of 1 to 5 indicated dissatisfaction and of 6 to 10 satisfaction.
Main outcome measures:
The main outcome measure was a self-administered questionnaire addressing the teaching of sexual health in the first 4 years and how this knowledge affected relationships with patients.
Results:
A total of 216 students answered the questionnaire. Only 27.27% and 22% of the students in the first and second years, respectively, reported having classes related to sexual medicine, whereas 38.1% (third year) and 54.40% (fourth year) had such classes. Regarding satisfaction, the weighted mean was 4.55 and the modes were 5 and 6. In the evaluation of their expectations about learning sexual health, 46 (67.6%) reported feeling non-confident, 18 (26.5%) did not answer the question, and 4 (5.9%) reported feeling confident.
Conclusion:
This study revealed a gradual progression in the offer of content related to sexual medicine to students throughout the medicine course, with weighted means of 2.6 (first year), 2.82 (second year), 3.58 (third year), and 4.55 (fourth year). However, the findings indicate that the teaching of this subject remains deficient and students feel unsatisfied and unprepared for their future practice of medicine.
Description
Citation
Teixeira Santos, A. U., Fava Spessoto, L. C., & Fácio, F. N., Jr (2021). Sexual Health Teaching in Basic Science Courses Among Medical Students. Sexual medicine, 9(1), 100309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100309
Publisher
Sexual Medicine