1. An Integrative Literature Review
Strategies For Delivering Sexual Health Education to Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders:
An Integrative Literature Review
Megan Harris; Research Advisor: Randi Singer, PhD, MSN, MEd
Background
Findings
Methods
Social stories and use of technology are successful teaching methods for individuals with ASDs. Furthermore, parents of adolescents with ASD provided information regarding the kind of support that they believed they needed in order to deliver medically accurate and relevant sexual health information to their adolescent.
Social Stories
Lack of social skills for adolescents with ASD can be particularly marked in the areas of intimate relationships and sexuality 
A Social Story is a short story with specific characteristics that describes a social situation, concept, or social skill using a format that is meaningful for persons with autism spectrum disorders
Social Stories have been associated with increased socially appropriate behaviors and decreased problem behaviors
Technology
Parents suggested that technology be a medium utilized for sexual health education delivery as it could have compelling visual displays, simulation of social environments, and interactivity
Interactive computer programs and virtual reality are being used to deliver direct intervention focused on the development of social and communication skills to individuals with ASD
The use of Social Stories and technology could be fused for optimum delivery and retention
Parental Support
Parents pointed to emotional and material support from healthcare providers and other staff who work with their youth’s development as important to help them competently deliver sexual health education
Access to information and community resources was also a key subject area that parents acknowledged as being important
An integrative literature review was conducted to determine current practices for teaching sex education to adolescents, age 12-18, on the autism spectrum.
Nine studies were reviewed and analyzed. The articles presented information from systematic revews, surveys, and semi-structured interviews.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurobiological condition that leads to cognitive and social deficits within the lives of individuals on the spectrum. Adolescence, and consequently puberty, is a time of intense physical and psychosocial changes that proves difficult for youth with ASDs. As families work through this transition they try to navigate teaching sexual health to their adolescent with an ASD. Teaching should be done to promote health, healthy relationships, and to shield youth with ASDs from victimization. Yet, parents report that they lack the knowledge and support to complete this task.
Conceptual Framework
Helen Erickson, Evelyn M. Tomlin, and Mary Anne P. Swain’s Modeling and Role Modeling (MRM) Theory served as the conceptual framework for this literature review. The theory states that: 1) humans consist of cognitive, biophysical, social, and physiological subsystems permeated by genetics and spiritual drive, 2) health is a perception of well-being, 3) health can be defined as a dynamic sense of well-being associated with self-fulfillment and transcendence beyond objective reality. For individuals with ASD a part of this dynamic equation of health must be a sense of autonomy and sexual identity or expression.
Purpose
The purpose of this literature review was to synthesize research on best practices for teaching sexual health education to adolescents with ASD. Parents are integral to this process so parental support is also reviewed. The following research questions were answered:
What strategies are effective for delivering sexual health education to adolescents with ASD?
What support is required for parents/caregivers to effectively teach sexual health education to their child with ASD?
Nursing Implications
Nurses should feel empowered to address sexual health information with individuals with ASDs and their families. Proper amounts of training for nurses should be implemented. Time should also be set aside for these interactions. Nurses should also form relationships with local community agencies that provide services specifically targeted to this population. So even if nurses are not able to provide the information they are still able to ensure that patients and families are receiving the best care and outcomes possible.