Youth and adolescence is considered a period of risk due to the increased possibility of engaging in risky activities that may have negative health consequences, including sexual relations. When it comes to young people’s experience of sexuality, there is a lack of information and education, coupled with mixed feelings about quality sources of information, due to the embarrassment associated with consultation and easy access to online sources of information from which to obtain immediate education.
A wide variety of training programmes have been developed on sexuality and contraceptive methods for adolescents and young people, however, all of them are based on a top-down methodology where the staff in charge of the training transmits information, without the necessary approach to the need to develop an attitude towards contraceptive methods that will lead to their use in future sexual relations as a means of preventing adverse consequences. Another aspect to highlight in the development of educational programmes would be to use a simulated practical scenario where theoretical knowledge can be put into practice in real health situations.
A study has been conducted to assess the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students about sexuality and contraception. The intervention was carried out in two sessions of 3 hours each. In the first session, groups of students were formed and they shared the contraceptive methods they knew about. The teachers then completed this information. The students were divided into smaller groups, and the different contraceptive methods were distributed and they had to give a presentation to their classmates during the second session. In the second session, at the end of the presentations, there was a general presentation of all the aspects covered. Finally, a simulation of a family planning service was carried out in which the students had to respond to different practical scenarios related to frequent doubts about the use of contraceptive methods.
The results of this study showed an increase in the post-session knowledge level of 71.43% in the knowledge level scale score and 2.17% in attitudes towards the use of contraceptive methods.
In conclusion, the peer-to-peer intervention with the incorporation of practical scenarios was shown to be effective in improving the level of knowledge and developing positive attitudes towards the use of contraceptive methods.
The article is available in: Sanz-Martos S, López-Medina IM, Álvarez-García C, Álvarez-Nieto C. Educational program on sexuality and contraceptive methods in nursing degree students. Nurse Education Today. 2021;107:105114.
