Comparison of Two Surveys Using the Sexuality Assessment Tool (SexAT) in Flanders

From 2015 it is mandatory in Flanders, Belgium, to develop a policy to deal with sexual abuse in elderly care. Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF'S) try to focus on this mandatory, but should also pay attention to implement an overall Sex and Intimacy Policy. This study contains a Comparison of two surveys (Messelis & Bauer, 2020 and Vander Stichele, e.a. 2020) in Flanders, Belgium, both using the Sexual Assessment Tool (SeAT, Messelis & Bauer, 2017). Both studies aimed to assess how supportive residential aged care facilities are of residents' sexual expression. In the survey of Messelis & Bauer 750 aged care facilities were contacted in 2017-2018 and 69 (9,2%) completed the SexAT survey after three reminders. Vander Stichele e.a. contacted 100 aged care facilities managers in 2019. Twenty of them (20% response rate) completed the SexAT after three reminders. Findings of the Messelis & Bauer survey indicate that 70% of the facilities rated 'very good' to 'good' (score between 21-59/69), while Vander Stichele e.a. found a prevalence of 76% of this score. Both found no facilities were rated 'excellent' (score greater than 60/69). In the category 'improvement needed' (score less than 20/69), percentages were 30% and 23%; a difference of 7% (CI95% of difference in percentage includes zero, not significant). There is room for improvement in residential aged care facilities for the support of sexual expression of residents. The more recent study confirms results of the previous one, and no significant evolution was observed in two consecutive cross-sectional surveys.

Sex, sexuality, and breathlessness

This chapter looks at sex and sexuality as an integral part of human relationships, and discusses the difficulties that can come with having a chronic respiratory disease and how these can be mitigated. These can range from infertility issues for male patients with cystic fibrosis, contraceptive issues for patients on antituberculosis medication, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs such as methotrexate, and a range of problems for other patients experiencing symptoms and adapting to their disease processes. Here the text addresses stereotypes that may exist, such as ageism and not seeing people with long-term conditions as sexually active. It then goes on to describe the nurse’s role in sexual assessment, sexual expression in the respiratory patient, adverse effects of medication, and key points to remember when discussing these issues with a patient.

A Validation Study of the Mandibular Canine Index Method of Sexual Assessment Using Two Decedent American Populations

Rao and colleagues created the Mandibular Canine Index (MCI) as a method of sex assessment. It has primarily been used on living South Asian populations. This study applies the Index to two decedent American populations in hopes that it will applicable to the field of Forensic Anthropology. Forty-five individuals from the C.A. Pound Human Identification Lab and the Wichita State Biological Anthropology Lab with full mandibular dentition were studied. The mesio-distal width of both right and left canines and the canine arch width were taken and the MCI calculated along with the standard MCI. Results show that the MCI is not statistically significant in determining males from females (p=.461 for right and p=.473 for left). The standard MCI was .242 for the right and .246 for the left. This gave an accuracy of 37% to 44% for males and 44% to 45% for females. The mesio-distal length (p = .002 for right and .001 for left) and canine arch width (p=.019) on their own were statistically significant and can be used in sex assessment if the teeth are present although they should be used with other methods. Further study should be done with a larger sample size to see if results are consistent.

Addressing Sexual Acting Out Behaviors with Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have similar sexual desires and relationship needs to their neuro-typical peers. However, they may be more likely to demonstrate problematic sexual behaviors as they mature, due to lack of education about sexuality, vulnerability to sexual abuse, deficits in social communication and understanding, restricted and repetitive interests and behaviors, and sensory interests. Treatment for sexual acting out behaviors in adolescents with ASD has not been explored and current recommendations focus on prevention through sexual education, which provides little guidance to clinicians working with adolescents who are already displaying sexual acting out behaviors. Adapting treatments for problematic sexual behaviors in neuro-typical children and adolescents may be the first step, although adaptation is complicated by developmental abilities that may not match an adolescent’s chronological age. A thorough developmental and sexual assessment is the first step to designing an appropriate treatment plan. Further research should focus on adapting and applying current treatments for sexual acting out by the ASD population.

Influence of Androgen Receptor Gene CAG and GGC Polymorphisms on Male Sexual Function: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. No study has assessed the possible involvement of GGC androgen receptor (AR) polymorphism in sexual function. Our aim is to evaluate the association between CAG and GGC AR polymorphisms in this function.Methods. We retrospectively examined eighty-five outpatients. Clinical, biochemical, and genetic parameters were considered. Sexual assessment was performed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) which evaluates erectile function (EF), orgasmic function (OF), sexual desire (SD), intercourse satisfaction (IS), and overall satisfaction (OS).Results. In the whole sample, CAG repeats were inversely correlated with EF, OF, and total IIEF-15 score, whereas GGC tracts did not show any significant correlation with sexual function. CAG relationship with IIEF items retained significance only in the eugonadal but not in the hypogonadal cohort. On the other hand, GGC tracts were not found to be significantly correlated with IIEF variables in either eugonadal or hypogonadal subjects. In eugonadal subjects, logistic regression pointed out that a higher number of CAG triplets were associated with lower values of EF, OF, SD, OS, and total IIEF independently from other confounders.Conclusions. GGC polymorphism seems not to exert any influence on sexual function, whereas CAG polymorphism appears to affect sexual parameters only in eugonadal subjects.