Concept Analysis of Responsible Sexual Behavior in Adult Women.

The concept of responsible sexual behavior is not clearly defined as it applies to adult women who have sex with men. Responsible sexual behavior is a socially desirable and deliberate pattern of behaviors used to promote sexual health, manage risk, and foster respect for sexual partners within the context of community influences. A purposeful redefinition may be necessary to maintain a concept that is useful and effective for evaluating sexual behavior.

Collegiate Women's Definitions of Responsible Sexual Behavior.

Promoting responsible sexual behavior (RSB) is a public health strategy to decrease unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Current definitions of RSB in the literature have been developed by providers and policy makers; little is known about adult women's perspectives. Interventions inconsistent with women's definitions of RSB may be less effective; therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand how a sample of college women defined RSB. Data was collected from interviews as part of a mixed methods study of college women and unintended pregnancy. Women defined beingsexually responsible as self-advocating through actions that are consistent with personal goals and values while being aware of consequences that could threaten those goals or values. Actions included mindful partner selection, communicating boundaries, and preventing pregnancy. Study findings were consistent with prior research that identified managing risk and purposeful decision making as crucial to acting responsibly.

Parent Perceptions of Sexual Education Needs for Their Children With Autism.

Primary responsibility for sexual education for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder falls on parents who have reported a lack of professional and material support. The purpose of this study was to 1) describe parent perceptions of sexual education needs of their children aged 14-20 with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and 2) determine parent-preferred mechanisms of delivery for tailored educational intervention strategies. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study aims were accomplished by a qualitative research design using focus groups and telephone interviews assisted by a structured interview guide. Study methods and analysis were guided by social marketing principles. RESULTS: A total of 15 parents (5 participated in 1 focus group and 10 completed individual interviews) acknowledged their primary role in providing sexual education for their children and confirmed a need for resources to assist them in this role. All parents in this study found that some level of sexual education was necessary and important and that all children had been introduced to sexual information but in varying degrees. Topic preferences included those that would increase the recognition of healthy relationships, provide a measure of self-protection, and ameliorate undesirable consequences of sexual activity. Parents were knowledgeable about how their children best learned and suggested future interventions use technology interfaces with engaging displays and allow for individualized content. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings highlight a need for additional research and enhanced clinical services to ensure that adolescents with autism spectrum disorder have their informational needs met, are able to avoid risks, and have the greatest capacity for a healthy sexuality as they transition to adulthood.

Facilitating the implementation of evidence- based practice through contextual support and nursing leadership.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Nurse managers (NMs) play an important role promoting evidence-based practice (EBP) on clinical units within hospitals. However, there is a dearth of research focused on NM perspectives about institutional contextual factors to support the goal of EBP on the clinical unit. The purpose of this article is to identify contextual factors described by NMs to drive change and facilitate EBP at the unit level, comparing and contrasting these perspectives across nursing units. METHODS: This study employed a qualitative descriptive design using interviews with nine NMs who were participating in a large effectiveness study. To stratify the sample, NMs were selected from nursing units designated as high or low performing based on implementation of EBP interventions, scores on the Meyer and Goes research use scale, and fall rates. Descriptive content analysis was used to identify themes that reflect the complex nature of infrastructure described by NMs and contextual influences that supported or hindered their promotion of EBP on the clinical unit. RESULTS: NMs perceived workplace culture, structure, and resources as facilitators or barriers to empowering nurses under their supervision to use EBP and drive change. A workplace culture that provides clear communication of EBP goals or regulatory changes, direct contact with CEOs, and clear expectations supported NMs in their promotion of EBP on their units. High-performing unit NMs described a structure that included nursing-specific committees, allowing nurses to drive change and EBP from within the unit. NMs from high-performing units were more likely to articulate internal resources, such as quality-monitoring departments, as critical to the implementation of EBP on their units. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of institutional contextual factors that can be used to support NMs in their efforts to drive EBP changes at the unit level.

Knowledge and use of emergency contraception in college women.

Despite the value of emergency contraception (EC) in reducing unintended pregnancy, use in college women has not been widely studied. This exploratory descriptive study, using a web-based survey, described knowledge and use of EC in 2,007 college women and identified associations between selected personal characteristics and EC use. Most women (72.2%) knew EC could be obtained over the counter and was most effective within 72 hr of intercourse (93%). Women inaccurately thought EC was effective through the first trimester of pregnancy (87.1%) and could cause birth defects (27.8%). Among sexually active women, 37% reported use. Experiencing a false alarm pregnancy, knowing that EC was available over the counter, and being Asian/Pacific Islander were positively associated with use. Additional studies should explore the utility of EC in other populations and efforts should be stepped up to provide accurate information about access and mechanism of use.