RESUMO
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a sexual healthcare training programme for clinical nurses, with respect to knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy concerning sexual healthcare. BACKGROUND: Inadequate sexual healthcare can result in poor treatment and quality of life for patients. Few studies have examined the development of sexual healthcare and related interventions from nurses' perspectives. DESIGN: The study included two stages involving focus groups and a quasi-experimental design. METHODS: The first stage consisted of an exploratory, descriptive session to assess nurses' perceptions and educational needs concerning sexual healthcare via two focus groups (N = 16). The second stage involved a quasi-experimental session to evaluate the training programme, based on the results of the first stage. In total, 117 nurses were recruited from a Taiwanese hospital; the experimental group (n = 59) completed a four-week (16 hours) training programme, and the control group (n = 58) did not participate in a training programme. Data were collected at four time points over 17 weeks. Longitudinal changes that occurred over time were examined using hierarchical linear models. RESULTS: The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge (ß = 0·16, p < 0·01), attitude (ß = 0·18, p < 0·05), and self-efficacy (ß = 0·73, p < 0·001) scores. Relative to that of the control group, the experimental group showed significantly greater improvement in knowledge (ß = -0·12, p < 0·01) and attitudes regarding sexual healthcare (ß = -0·25, p < 0·05), but their improvement in self-efficacy concerning sexual healthcare was limited (p = 0·179). CONCLUSIONS: The training programme for sexual healthcare could exert positive and beneficial effects on nurses' development of knowledge regarding sexual healthcare and clarify their values and attitudes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The training programme could reduce challenges related to sexual healthcare issues in nursing care.