TITLE:
Co-Creation of a Working Model to Improve Sexual Health for Persons Living with Rheumatological Diseases
AUTHORS:
Kristina Areskoug-Josefsson, Sara Hjalmarsson, Mathilda Björk, Annette Sverker
KEYWORDS:
Co-Creation, Rheumatology, Sexual Health, Sexuality, Care, Sweden
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases,
Vol.10 No.3,
June
9,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: Sexual health needs are
insufficiently met for persons living with rheumatological diseases and it is necessary to create better ways
to meet these needs. Objective: To co-create a working model to improve sexual health for persons living with rheumatological diseases, that can be used
by rheumatological teams in regular rheumatology practice. Design: This study applied
a co-creation design with three key features: 1) it took a systems perspective with emergent multiple interactive entities;
2) the research process was viewed as a creative endeavour with strong
links to design, while human imagination and the individual experience of
patient and staff were at the core of the creative design effort; 3) the
process of the co-creative efforts was as important as the generated product. Results: A model defining the
role of the patient, the professionals, and the team in optimizing sexual
health for persons living with rheumatological diseases was co-created. The
model can be seen as a practice guideline, which includes the support needed
from and to each participant in the process of promoting sexual health, while
being within the professional scope of the professionals’ knowledge and
capacity, and in line with the needs of the persons living with rheumatological
diseases. Discussion and Conclusions: The co-creative work
process identified crucial factors in promoting sexual health, resulting in a
useful model for patients, professionals and teams. Co-creation was experienced
to be a useful research design to improve rheumatological care, through valuing
and using the competence of all research members equally.