Abstract
Objective
Addressing sexual health concerns in medical practice has been an emerging concept for the past two decades. However, there have been very few educational opportunities in medical training that would prepare future physicians for such a responsibility. Since assessing and treating sexual problems requires knowledge that encompasses many disciplines and requires skills typically not within the purview of medical training, the authors propose a multidisciplinary model that includes collaboration with sex therapists.
Methods
The authors review the extant literature on sexual health education in medical training.
Results
The authors describe an existing and evolving model at the University of Michigan which is based on several collaborative initiatives between the medical school, the psychiatry residency program, and several medical departments.
Conclusion
The authors propose a collaborative training model that would facilitate future physicians’ comfort with the subject and the acquisition of skills necessary to provide optimal care for patients who present with sexual health concerns.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Satcher D: The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior, 2001. Available at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/sexual-health/call.htm
Lief HI, Ebert RK: A survey of sex education in medical schools, in Sex Education and in Medicine. Edited by Lief HI, Karlen A. New York, Spectrum Publications, 1976, pp 81–85
Weston E, Coleman E: Defining sexual health: a descriptive overview. Arch Sex Behav 2004; 33:189–195
Young F: How to take a sexual history. J Fam Health Care 2005; 15:149–151
Christner J, Davis P, Rosen DS: Office-based interventions to promote healthy sexual behavior. Adolesc Med State Art Rev 2007; 18:544–557
Tsimtsiou X, Hatzimouratidis K, Nakopoulou E, et al: Predictors of physicians’ involvement in addressing sexual health issues. J Sex Med 2006; 3:583–588
Shabsigh R, Sadovsky R, Rosen RC, et al: Impact of an educational initiative on applied knowledge and attitudes of physicians who treat sexual dysfunction. J Impot Res 2009; 21:74–81
Davis D, Galbraith R: Continuing medical education effect on practice performance: effectiveness of continuing medical education: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Educational Guidelines. Chest 2009; 135(suppl 3): 42S–48S
Mazmanian PE, Davis DA, Galbraith R: Continuing medical education effect on clinical outcomes: Effectiveness of continuing medical education: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Educational Guidelines. Chest 2009; 135(suppl 3):49S–55S
Rosen R, Kountz D, Post-Zwicker T, et al: Sexual communication skills in residency training: the Robert Wood Johnson model. J Sex Med 2006; 3:37–46
Sanda MG, Dunn RL, Michalski J, et al: Quality of life and satisfaction with outcome among prostate-cancer survivors. N Engl J Med 2008; 358:1250–1261
Ganz P, Desmond KA, Belin TR, et al: Predictors of sexual health in women after a breast cancer diagnosis. J Clin Oncol 1999; 17:2371–2380
Basson R, Schultz WW: Sexual sequelae of general medical disorders. Lancet 2007; 369:409–424
Miller D, Sanda MG, Dunn RL, et al: Long-term outcomes among localized prostate cancer survivors: health-related quality-of-life, treatment symptoms, and marital satisfaction 2.5–5.5 years after treatment. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23:2772–2780
Nusbaum MR, Hamilton C, Lenahan P: Chronic illness and sexual functioning. Am Fam Physician 2003; 67:347–354
Matthews Nichols C, Barrett K: Female sexual dysfunction: a survey of Ob/Gyn resident education and experience. Program of the Annual International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, 2005, Las Vegas, p 248
Resnick Anderson K: Incorporating sexuality training into graduate medical education curriculum: the Summa Health System Model. Poster presentation, Society for Sex Therapy and Research Annual Meeting Proceedings, Washington, DC, pp 86–87
Marwick C: Survey says patients expect little physician help on sex. JAMA 1999; 281:2173–2174
Barton-Burke M, Gustason CJ: Sexuality in women with cancer. Nurs Clin North Am 2007; 42:531–554
Dieppe CR, Kumar M, Crome I: Adolescent exploratory behavior—what do trainees know? J Adolesc Health 2008; 43:520–522
Ramos S, Gogna M: Training in reproductive health and sexuality: the case of a regional program in Latin America. Women’s Health Issues 1997; 7:109–112
Taylor JF, Rosen RC, Leiblum SR: Self-report assessment of female sexual function: psychometric evaluation of the Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women. Arch Sex Behav 1994; 23:627–643
Wei JT, Dunn RL, Litwin MS, et al: Development and validation of the expanded prostate cancer index composite (EPIC) for comprehensive assessment of health-related quality of life in men with prostate cancer. Urology 2000; 56: 899–905
Sharpley CF, Cross, DG: A psychometric evaluation of the Spanier Dyadic Adjustment Scale. J Marriage Fam 2004; 44:739–747
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Foley, S., Wittmann, D. & Balon, R. A Multidisciplinary Approach to Sexual Dysfunction in Medical Education. Acad Psychiatry 34, 386–389 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.34.5.386
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.34.5.386