Zeitschrift für Gemeinde- und öffentliche Gesundheitspflege

Abstrakt

Application of the Extended-PLISSIT Model to Improve Sexual Health in the Adolescent Population: A Theory Analysis

Neelam Saleem Punjani

Aim: The aim of this paper is to explore whether an intervention plan based on the Ex-PLISSIT model can guide nurses in effectively addressing sexual issues in adolescents. In view of limited evidence on the applications of Ex-PLISSIT in adolescents, a theory analysis was performed in order to determine its usefulness, validity, and practicality in the context of adolescent sexual health.

Background: Sexual health is an important aspect of an adolescents’ overall health, and should be addressed competently, so as to protect adolescents’ confidentiality, while also exploring and answering their concerns. The Ex-PLISSIT model provides a concise technique for opening discussion about sexual health concerns and can be easily incorporated into routine clinical practice. Yet the applicability and usefulness of the Ex-PLISSIT in the context of adolescent health is unclear due to insufficient research.

Methods: A theory analysis was undertaken using Walker and Avant’s six steps approach. The six steps include identification of the theory’s origins, examination of the theory’s meaning, analysis of the theory’s logical adequacy, determination of the theory’s usefulness, the degree of the theory’s generalizability and parsimony, and determination of the theory’s testability.

Results: The theory analysis suggests that the Ex-PLISSIT model is meaningful, logically adequate, useful, generalizable, parsimonious, and testable in the context of the adolescent population. The systematic examination of the Ex-PLISSIT model also proposes that an intervention plan prepared within the framework of the Ex-PLISSIT model can guide nurses in assessing and intervening to assist in resolving sexual issues of adolescents.

Conclusion: The use of the Ex-PLISSIT model can assist nurses in making an important contribution to adolescents’ sexual health. With additional testing and refinement, the Ex-PLISSIT model has the potential to guide nursing research and practice to improve adolescents’ overall sexual wellbeing.