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Talking about sex after traumatic brain injury: perceptions and experiences of multidisciplinary rehabilitation professionals

Dyer, Kerry; das Nair, Roshan

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Authors

Kerry Dyer

ROSHAN NAIR Roshan.dasnair@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology



Abstract

Purpose: Research indicates that although 50–60% of people who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience changes in sexual functioning, sexuality issues remain largely unaddressed in rehabilitation. This study aimed to explore rehabilitation professionals’ perceptions and experiences of discussing sexuality with service-users who have had a TBI.

Method: Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 24 participants from two local National Health Service trusts and from a national charity. Four focus groups were conducted with pre-existing groups of professionals, using a semi-structured interview schedule. Focus group data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Six main themes were derived from the analysis: (1) sexuality after TBI is a specialist issue; (2) sexuality is a sensitive subject; (3) practicalities of discussing sexuality; (4) roles and responsibilities; (5) dilemmas about risk and vulnerabilities; and (6) organisational and structural issues.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a more proactive approach to addressing sexuality issues be taken by incorporating sexuality into assessments and by having sexuality information available for service-users. Support for professionals is also needed in the form of the development of policy, on-going training and supervision.

Citation

Dyer, K., & das Nair, R. (2013). Talking about sex after traumatic brain injury: perceptions and experiences of multidisciplinary rehabilitation professionals. Disability and Rehabilitation, 36(17), https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2013.859747

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 27, 2013
Publication Date Nov 29, 2013
Deposit Date Jun 24, 2016
Publicly Available Date Jun 24, 2016
Journal Disability and Rehabilitation
Print ISSN 0963-8288
Electronic ISSN 1464-5165
Publisher Taylor and Francis
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 36
Issue 17
DOI https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2013.859747
Keywords Rehabilitation, Sexuality, Traumatic brain injury
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/719167
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2013.859747
Additional Information The Version of Record of this manuscript has been published and is available in
Disability and Rehabilitation 2014 http://www.tandfonline.com/10.3109/09638288.2013.859747
Contract Date Jun 24, 2016

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