Exploring Patient Needs and Professional Competencies Related to Sexuality in Forensic Care (protocol)

The objective is to collect and describe the existing scientific evidence on the patients’ needs concerning sexuality and the competencies required from forensic professionals to provide education on sexuality within the forensic clinical setting. Sexual health is a vital aspect of overall well-being, with significant implications for quality of life, general health, and mental well-being. In forensic mental health care, sexual health is particularly important, as intimate relationships can play a key role in rehabilitation and improving quality of life. However, many forensic settings focus more on restricting inappropriate sexual behaviors than on promoting sexual health. For instance, in clinical environments, the primary attention often centres on deviant sexuality in forensic patients who have committed sexual offenses, while broader aspects of sexual health receive limited consideration. This is despite the fact that forensic patients often spend extended periods in clinical settings with restricted freedoms. Existing manuals have highlighted the lack of expertise and formal policy on sexual health. This project aims to explore the needs of patients, as well as the professional competencies required to address sexual health in forensic settings.