BACKGROUND: Sexual problems are common among cardiac patients. Further information is required on patients' experiences of sexuality and preferences for sexual counselling. AIM: To characterise sexual dysfunction and related factors among patients following cardiac rehabilitation and examine related treatment delivery. METHODS: Telephone interviews with 382 patients (32% response rate) recruited from six hospital rehabilitation centres. RESULTS: Seventy-nine per cent were male; average age was 64 years (SD 9.8). Forty-seven per cent of the total sample reported no sexual relations in the previous year, and nearly a half of sexually active respondents reported at least one sexual problem. Erectile dysfunction (reported by 33%) and lack of interest in sex (reported by 10%) were the most common problems for men and women respectively. Twenty-three per cent reported that sex had deteriorated for them since their cardiac event, and for half of these this was considered a serious problem. In logistic regression analysis, higher anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and being male were associated with reporting a sexual problem (χ(2) = 37.85, p<0.001). Sixty-six per cent reported that sex was never discussed by a health professional and satisfaction with this aspect of care was low. Patients wanted these issues to be addressed and the majority (63%) claimed they would find it easy to discuss sexual problems with a health professional. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual inactivity and sexual problems are common in this group. Health professionals should address sexual issues with their patients, ideally in a private setting and within the broader context of addressing psychological wellbeing.
BACKGROUND: Sexual problems are common among cardiac patients. Further information is required on patients' experiences of sexuality and preferences for sexual counselling. AIM: To characterise sexual dysfunction and related factors among patients following cardiac rehabilitation and examine related treatment delivery. METHODS: Telephone interviews with 382 patients (32% response rate) recruited from six hospital rehabilitation centres. RESULTS: Seventy-nine per cent were male; average age was 64 years (SD 9.8). Forty-seven per cent of the total sample reported no sexual relations in the previous year, and nearly a half of sexually active respondents reported at least one sexual problem. Erectile dysfunction (reported by 33%) and lack of interest in sex (reported by 10%) were the most common problems for men and women respectively. Twenty-three per cent reported that sex had deteriorated for them since their cardiac event, and for half of these this was considered a serious problem. In logistic regression analysis, higher anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and being male were associated with reporting a sexual problem (χ(2) = 37.85, p<0.001). Sixty-six per cent reported that sex was never discussed by a health professional and satisfaction with this aspect of care was low. Patients wanted these issues to be addressed and the majority (63%) claimed they would find it easy to discuss sexual problems with a health professional. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual inactivity and sexual problems are common in this group. Health professionals should address sexual issues with their patients, ideally in a private setting and within the broader context of addressing psychological wellbeing.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cardiovascular diseases; cardiac rehabilitation; erectile dysfunction; sexual assessment and counselling; sexual dysfunction; sexual problems
Authors: Ruth M Mellor; Sheila M Greenfield; George Dowswell; James P Sheppard; Tom Quinn; Richard J McManus Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-10-29 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Patrick J Murphy; Chris Noone; Maureen D'Eath; Dympna Casey; Sally Doherty; Tiny Jaarsma; Andrew W Murphy; Martin O'Donnell; Noeleen Fallon; Paddy Gillespie; Amirhossein Jalali; Jenny Mc Sharry; John Newell; Elaine Toomey; Elaine E Steinke; Molly Byrne Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2018-07-02
Authors: Patrick J Murphy; Jenny Mc Sharry; Dympna Casey; Sally Doherty; Paddy Gillespie; Tiny Jaarsma; Andrew W Murphy; John Newell; Martin O'Donnell; Elaine E Steinke; Elaine Toomey; Molly Byrne Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2016-06-24 Impact factor: 2.692