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The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether professionals who work with people with an upper limb deficiency (ULD) received questions about sexuality from their patients and whether they addressed sexuality themselves, and to analyze their knowledge and comfort level, approach and attitudes towards sexuality. An online questionnaire, including questions on self-perceived sexological competence and the Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS) was used to asses these aspects. One out of three professionals had received a question about sexuality from their patients. Nearly one out of five professionals had addressed sexuality themselves. Professionals who received a question about sexuality from patients or addressed this issue themselves had significantly higher scores on self-perceived knowledge about sexuality and on self-perceived conversation skills compared to professionals who did not. The scores on the KCAASS Knowledge and Comfort of professionals who received a question about sexuality or addressed the issue of sexuality were significantly higher than those of professionals who did not. Sexuality is thus only scantly discussed by professionals working with patients with an ULD. Professionals indicated they do not feel confident nor comfortable enough to address this issue. They also experience a lack of appropriate knowledge to address sexuality with patients. Professionals reported a need for courses and training on both knowledge and conversation skills concerning sexuality. In addition, a protocol and necessary facilities need to be provided for the team working with people with an ULD in order to be able to address sexuality systematically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The prevalence of sexual dysfunctions in people with diabetes is still debated and understudied in women. This study examines the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men and women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes (T1D or T2D) and the associations with clinical and psychological variables., Methods: Adults with diabetes (n = 756) completed an online survey including questions on sexual functioning (adapted Short Sexual Functional Scale), general emotional well-being (WHO-5), symptoms of anxiety (GAD-7) and diabetes distress (PAID-20)., Results: One third of participants reported a sexual dysfunction. Men reported erectile dysfunction (T1D: 20%; T2D: 33%), and orgasmic dysfunction (T1D: 22%; T2D: 27%). In men, sexual dysfunction was independently associated with, older age (OR = 1.05, p = 0.022), higher waist circumference (OR = 1.04; p < 0.001) and longer duration of diabetes (OR = 1.04; p = 0.007). More men with sexual dysfunction reported diabetes distress (20% vs. 12%, p = 0.026). Women reported decreased desire (T1D: 22%; T2D: 15%) and decreased arousal (T1D: 9%; T2D: 11%). More women with sexual dysfunction reported diabetes distress (36% vs. 21%, p = 0.003), impaired emotional well-being (36% vs. 25%, p = 0.036) and anxiety symptoms (20% vs. 11%, p = 0.026)., Conclusion: Sexual dysfunctions are common in both men and women with diabetes. In men, sexual dysfunctions were associated with clinical factors. More women with sexual dysfunction reported low emotional well-being and anxiety symptoms compared to women without sexual dysfunction. For both men and women, sexual dysfunctions were associated with diabetes distress., (© 2021 Diabetes UK.)

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of sexual dysfunction in a sample of Dutch men and women with type 2 diabetes. Patients with type 2 diabetes who were between the ages of 40 and 75 years from 4 Dutch diabetes centers were asked to complete self-report questionnaires covering sociodemographic characteristics, medical characteristics, clinical depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies), and sexual dysfunction (in men: International Index of Erectile Function; in women: Female Sexual Function Index). In total, 158 type 2 diabetes patients (68% men) completed the cross-sectional survey. On the basis of predefined criteria, 69% of men and 70% of women were classified with some degree of sexual dysfunction. Univariable logistic regression analyses revealed that sexual dysfunctions were associated with higher age, clinical depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies score ≥16), and one or more diabetes-related complications in both men and women. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that clinical depression was most strongly associated with both male (OR = 6.87, 95% CI [1.77, 26.63]) and female (OR = 9.33, 95% CI [1.03, 84.87]) sexual dysfunction. In conclusion, sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in men and women with type 2 diabetes and is associated with higher age, clinical depression, and diabetes-related complications. These results suggest that addressing sexual dysfunction in diabetes care is important.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze whether, and by whom sexuality is discussed in amputation departments. The focus was on whether professionals received questions about sexuality from their patients with a lower limb amputation and whether they addressed sexuality themselves, as well as on the knowledge and comfort level, approach and attitudes toward sexuality of these professionals., Method: An online questionnaire, including questions on self-perceived sexological competence and the Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale., Results: Seventy-eight percent of the professionals had not received questions about sexuality from their patients and 67% had not addressed sexuality. Self-perceived knowledge about sexuality and self-perceived ability to recognize sexual problems increased the odds of receiving a question about sexuality and the odds of addressing this issue., Conclusions: Sexuality is rarely discussed by professionals in the amputation department. It is, however, the responsibility of the professional to do so. By addressing sexuality in a systematic way and discussing this as a common topic professionals "give permission" to patients and other team members to discuss eventual sexual problems or concerns. Therefore, the professionals' self-perceived sexological competence and feeling of comfort with the topic of sexuality need to be increased. Implications for Rehabilitation Sexuality is rarely discussed by professionals in the amputation department, even though sexual problems do occur in patients with a lower limb amputation (LLA). By addressing sexuality in a systematic way and discussing this as a common topic professionals "give permission" to patients and other team members to discuss eventual sexual problems or concerns. Our study shows that self-perceived knowledge about sexuality and self-perceived ability to recognize sexual problems increases the odds of receiving a question about sexuality and the odds of addressing this issue. Investing in courses that focus on increasing the knowledge and feeling of comfort concerning sexuality of professionals working with people with a LLA is therefore of important value.