Gender Role Attitudes and Barriers in Korean Nurses When Addressing Patients' Sexual Health

Kim, Jung Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this research wasto examine the relationships between gender role attitudes and barriers in Korean nurses when addressing patients' sexual health. METHOD: The sample for this study was a convenience sample of Korean nurses who worked in hospitals in Seoul and Jeonju. Data were collected between November 2008 and January 2009.
RESULTS
Nurses showed less traditional gender role attitudes with means score of 40.72 (SD=3.99) of a possible 10 to 50 range. The barriers to addressing patients' sexual health were moderate in these nurses with a mean score of 44.92 (SD=7.66) of a possible 12 to 60 range. There were significant correlations between gender role attitudes and barriers to addressing patients' sexual health (r= -.142, p= .007). Nurses with less traditional gender role attitudes felt more barriers to addressing patients' sexual health.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates a need for educational programs that will improve the problem-solving abilities of nurses in a hospital environment and help them gain ground as sexual health specialists. The results may contribute to the development and application of a patient-centered sexual health-related curriculum, which would aid nurses in addressing sexual concerns of their patients.