DEVELOPMENT AND USABILITY TESTING OF AN ADAPTED SEX-POSITION EDUCATION BOOKLET AMONG STROKE SURVIVORS AND SPOUSES

The study aimed to develop and test the usability of an adapted sex-position education booklet among stroke survivors and their spouses.

This study was in two phases. In phase one, a sex-position education resource was adapted from the University Health Network (UHN) at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, specifically designed by the Intimacy After Stroke Working Group (2019). It comprised eight stroke-friendly sexual positions in lying, sitting, and kneeling postures with written instructions.

Phase two was a cross-sectional study involving 15 stroke survivors and 15 spouses, aged 30 to 65 years, selected purposively from three tertiary hospitals in Southwest Nigeria. Signed informed consent was obtained from all participants, after which booklets were given to each of them for use 4 weeks. Usability was assessed with the Usability, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use (USE) Questionnaire and a Feasibility Questionnaire to assess the booklet's usability. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data.

Majority (93.3%) of SSVs and spouses (93.3%) rated the booklet content as clear. Confidence in using the booklet was reported as high (60%) for both SSVs and spouses. 13.3% of SSVs rated the booklet as having high usability, 46.7% rated it as moderate, and 33.3% rated it as poor; while 73.3% of spouses rated the usability of the booklet as moderate and 20% rated it as poor. 

Content of the booklet was clear, and SSVs and spouses felt confident to use it. However usability of booklet was moderate.

1. The findings of this study highlight a need for sexual health support for SSVs and their spouses.
2. The study also demonstrates that stroke survivors are willing to utilize simple accessible tools to help them navigate sexual challenges.
3. Physiotherapists should incorporate sexual health assessment and education in the management of stroke patients.
4. Considering the limitations in movement and coordination experienced by SSVs, physiotherapists should adopt simple, illustrative, culturally sensitive, accessible methods to help patients feel safe and confident while navigating sexual activities post-stroke.