SEXUAL ISSUES IN UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION IN FINLAND
Elise Kosunen, MD, PhD, Medical School, University of Tampere, Finland

Background: Several studies have shown that health care professionals rarely address questions of sexuality, probably due to the lack of education and training in councelling sexual issues. Only a few reports have been published concerning contents of sexual education in curricula of medical schools.
Material and method: This research was started with a review of the written study programmes of all five medical schools in Finland, yielding not very much relevant information. Next, key persons involved in curriculum planning as well teaching nurses were interviewed to get up-to-date information in who were currently responsible for teaching topics of sexuality. Finally, these teachers were interviewed face-to face, by phone or by sending the questions by e-mail. The question presented was "Do you teach anything in your discipline that concerns sexuality?" This main question was then followed by some topics that were given as examples. A further question was added to specify the type of education: was it a lecture or small group teaching?
Results: All medical schools provided some lectures on sexology, and new elective courses have been introduced over the last few years. The topics that were covered in all five study programmes were childrens' psychosexual development, sexual violence and male erectile dysfunctions. As sexuality education is not provided by any single medical discipline, there is no central planning and co-ordination of this field. Thus, some crucial topics of sexuality remain totally or almost uncovered in the study programmes. For instance, the effects of ageing on sexual function and sexuality among older people are covered in only one medical school out of five. The diversity of sexual behaviour and different sexual orientations are not addressed in any of the five programmes.
Conclusion: Medical curricula should be reviewed and completed from view-point of sexuality.