| Category | Barriers |
| Nurses related barriers | Lack enough time to address patients’ sexual health Lack of knowledge about sexual health Lack of training about sexual health Nursing shortage and heavy workload* Lack of educational materials about sexual health* Sexual health assessment is not nurses’ responsibility (physician)* The patient is too ill and not ready for sexual health assessment* Nurses feel uncomfortable with sexual health assessment Presence of a third party with patient during hospital stay* Afraid to offend the patient or afraid from offend response No connection with the patient Gender difference (male-female) between nurses and patients* Focus on physical illness rather than sexual health Sex is a private matter Patients do not ask about sexual health* Misunderstanding of nurse who ask about sexual health maters (Social interpretation)* Nurses own beliefs, values and attitudes about sexual health |
| Patient related barriers | Sexuality is not an issue for some patients (not interested) The patient is too ill and not ready to receive sexual health assessment* Presence of a third party with patient during hospital stay Patients do not ask about sexual health Old age of the patient Sexual health assessment is not nurses’ responsibility (physician)* Gender difference (male-female) between nurses and patients Misunderstanding of patient who ask about sexual health maters (Social interpretation) |
| Organizational and academic related barriers | Lack of privacy rooms for sexual health assessment Lack of educational materials about sexual health Lack of motivation from health care institutions (low priority) Lack of sexual health assessment section from nursing assessment sheet Lack of organizational policies about sexual health assessment Nursing shortage and heavy workload Lack sexual health education in undergraduate studies |
| Value related barriers | Cultural or religious reasons Social restrains prevent talks about sexual topics Language or ethnicity reasons Sex is a private matter Age difference between nurse and patient (old patient and young nurse) Gender difference (male-female) between nurses and patients Social interpretation of sex (means pleasure and enjoyment) Nurses own beliefs, values and attitudes about sexual health |