Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41638730›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Sexuality and sexual boundary violations in healthcare organisations: a qualitative focus group study in mental health and disability care in the Netherlands.

Jan-Willem Weenink, Charlotte Kröger, Eva van Baarle

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Jan-Willem WeeninkErasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands weenink@eshpm.eur.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0443-9785
Charlotte KrögerDepartment of Ethics, Law and Medical Humanities, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Eva van BaarleDepartment of Ethics, Law and Medical Humanities, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo explore how sexuality and sexual boundary violations are perceived and experienced in healthcare teams and organisations.

designQualitative focus group study.

settingMental health and disability care.

participantsIn total, 56 people participated across 15 focus groups in three healthcare organisations. Participants included client experts (former clients), healthcare professionals such as a psychologist, speech therapist, sexologist and personal coach, team leaders, managers and directors.

resultsWe identified 14 different types of situations in which sexuality and sexual boundary violations play a role on four different levels: between clients, between clients and healthcare professionals, between healthcare professionals and on the management level. Situations ranged from attraction and intimacy between clients and/or professionals, promoting sexual health of clients, gut feelings and speaking up, transgressive behaviour from clients and professionals, false accusations and investigations into allegations.

conclusionsSituations regarding sexuality and sexual boundary violations are varied and complex. They unfold at different levels of interaction within the organisation. To deal with this and come to practical approaches, it is important that clients, professionals and managers engage in reflection and dialogue about their experiences, opinions and perspectives.

Indexed as

Health PersonnelMental Health ServicesPersons with DisabilitiesProfessional-Patient RelationsSexualityAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedNetherlandsQualitative ResearchSexual HealthDisabled PersonsMENTAL HEALTHOrganisation of health servicesSEXUAL MEDICINE

Identifiers

PMID41638730
PMCPMC12878329

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