Sex knowledge and sexual attitudes among medical and nursing students

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between ba ckground and sociodemographic variables, attitudes toward controversial asp ects of human sexuality and sex knowledge among medical and nursing student s. Method: The study design was a questionnaire-based survey of medical and nu rsing students in Western Australia. Participants were first- through fifth -year medical students at the University of Western Australia and first- th rough third-year undergraduate nursing students at Edith Cowan University. Outcome measures were students' attitudes toward controversial aspects of h uman sexuality expressed on a five-point Likert scale and a modified versio n of the Kinsey Institute/Roper Organization National Sex Knowledge Test. Results: A significant relationship was found between certain background an d sociodemographic variables, sexual attitudes and sex knowledge. The backg round variable most strongly related to both attitudes and knowledge was fr equency of attendance at religious services of any religious denomination d uring the past month, with those attending three or more times more likely to express negative attitudes and have lower sex knowledge scores. Lower se x knowledge was related to negative attitudes toward gay/lesbian/bisexual b ehaviour, masturbation, premarital sex and contraception. Other important b ackground and sociodemographic variables related to negative attitudes were : never having experienced sexual intercourse; right-wing political orienta tion; lower family income; gender and ethnicity. Conclusions: Negative attitudes toward controversial aspects of human sexua lity and lower sex knowledge scores among medical and nursing students can be predicted on the basis of background and sociodemographic variables. Edu cation aimed at increasing sex knowledge and modifying negative attitudes m ay increase students' ability to function more effectively as sexual histor y takers and sex counsellors.