I Just Want to Know if I Was Safe: Views of Consumers About Sexual Safety on Acute Mental Health In-Patient Units.
Michael Olasoji, Taylah Powell, Swapnali Gazula and 7 others
PMID 40457701WHAT IT FOUND
Twelve consumers described feeling sexually unsafe on acute mental health wards, often because other consumers or staff actions made them uneasy.
They wanted nurses to ask about safety at admission and check in daily, and most used avoidance instead.
Key findings
01Twelve consumers reported a lack of sexual safety on acute mental health inpatient units, with discomfort from other consumers and sometimes staff.
02Participants wanted nursing staff to ask about sexual safety during admission and to check in regularly while they were on the ward.
03Avoidance was the most commonly reported way participants tried to maintain their own sexual safety.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included 12 consumers, 11 female and 1 male, so it did not capture a broader view of male consumers. Findings came from one Australian hospital, so they may not apply to other countries or Australian states with different policies and legislation. The ward had female-only sections but was not a single-sex ward, so views may differ for consumers on single-sex wards. The study explored perceptions and did not measure whether any practice or environmental change improved sexual safety.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that asking about sexual safety or creating gender-specific areas reduces harm. The study reports consumer views from a small qualitative sample, not outcomes of an intervention.