Sexual Counseling in Patients With Heart Failure

Kolbe, Nina; Kugler, Christiane; Schnepp, Wilfried; Jaarsma, Tiny

doi:10.1097/jcn.0000000000000215

Cited by 23 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Whereas previous studies have reported healthcare professionals’ reluctance or difficulty with providing sexual counseling, 10 , 33 staff were, on the whole, comfortable with delivering the content of the patient education class on sexual health. Nevertheless, some concerns persisted that a discussion on sexual matters might embarrass or make patients uncomfortable.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Participants’ Experiences of a Sexual Counseling Intervention During Cardiac Rehabilitation

et al. 2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background:International guidelines recommend sexual assessment and counseling be offered to all patients with cardiovascular disease during cardiac rehabilitation. However, sexual problems are infrequently addressed. The Cardiac Health and Relationship Management and Sexuality (CHARMS) intervention is a complex, multilevel intervention designed to increase the provision of sexual counseling in cardiac rehabilitation. It was piloted in 2 cardiac rehabilitation centers to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention and to inform and refine a definitive cluster randomized controlled trial protocol.Objectives:The aim of this study was to explore the experiences, perceptions, and opinions of patients, partners, and cardiac rehabilitation staff who participated in the CHARMS staff-led patient education class.Methods:A qualitative, descriptive study using semistructured interviews to collect the data. Cardiac rehabilitation staff (n = 8) were interviewed when the intervention commenced in their center and 3 months later (n = 6). Patients (n = 19) and partners (n = 2) were interviewed after delivery of the class; 7 were interviewed again 3 months postintervention to explore temporal changes in opinions.Results:Most cardiac rehabilitation staff were comfortable delivering the CHARMS intervention but would prefer a less structured format. Some staff perceived discomfort among patients. Few patients reported discomfort. Most patients and partners considered that the intervention was a welcome and acceptable part of a cardiac rehabilitation program.Conclusion:Incorporating sexual counseling into cardiac rehabilitation programs is feasible. Although the views of the patients and staff diverged on a number of issues including the perceived comfort of patients, its inclusion was welcomed by patients and was acceptable overall to both staff and patients.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“… 7 Two key reasons for this have been identified: first, the personal and sensitive nature of the topic that prohibits patients from raising the issue 8 and, second, the unpreparedness of health professionals in terms of lack of training, knowledge, comfort, and skills to confidently discuss sexual health problems with their cardiac patients. 9 , 10 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Participants’ Experiences of a Sexual Counseling Intervention During Cardiac Rehabilitation

et al. 2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The existence of negative behaviors and beliefs, as well as the perception of having little training in matters of sex, can hamper work on aspects related to sex in primary care consultations (Dalfó Pibernat, Pelegrina Rodríguez, Dalfó Pibernat, Rosell Vidal, & Rosell Vidal, ). It has been reported that most nurses do not consider sexual education as necessary to practice their profession, and consequently, they do not provide it (Kolbe, Kugler, Schnepp, & Jaarsma, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploration of clients living with HIV needs for reporting on experiences with sex

Leyva‐Moral

Feijoo-Cid

Domingo

et al. 2020

Nursing & Health Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Talking about sex with people living with HIV receives insufficient attention in health care. A cross‐sectional and exploratory study describes the preferences of people living with HIV to talk about sex with specialized HIV physicians and nurses in a clinic in Barcelona (Spain). A 27‐item self‐administered questionnaire was used between June 2017 and May 2018. One hundred fourteen people agreed to participate. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Most of the participants reported “never or almost never” having been asked about sex practices in visits with the HIV specialist physician (n = 65 [57.0%]) or nurse (n = 74 [64.9%]). Older participants stated that neither physicians nor nurses talked about sex during visits. Women felt that physicians hardly ever asked about their sexual practices. Men who had sex with other men indicated that their physicians always asked about their sex practices compared with heterosexuals living with HIV. Health professionals should reformulate how to talk about sex with people living with HIV to facilitate communication and provide adequate care.

show abstract

“…Although the majority of health care professionals feel a certain responsibility to discuss patients' sexual health, in practice, they seldom address sex with their patients, even during cardiac rehabilitation or in general practice 9, 10, 11…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some feel embarrassed to address the topic, others do not want to embarrass the health care providers, or others fear that their health care provider is not experienced enough to understand his/her problems 9, 11…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual function of patients with heart failure: facts and numbers

Jaarsma

2016

ESC Heart Failure

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Approximately 60% to 87% of patients with heart failure (HF) report sexual problems, and numbers as low as 31% of HF patients younger than 70 have normal sexual function. When compared with healthy elders, the amount of perceived sexual dysfunction might be similar (around 56%), but patients with HF are reporting more erectile dysfunction (ED) and also perceive that their HF symptoms (20%) or HF medication (10%) is the cause for their problems. The prevalence of ED is highly prevalent in men with cardiac disease and reported in up to 81% of cardiac patients, compared with 50% in the general older population. In total 25–76% of women with HF report sexual problems or concerns.The physical effort related to sexual activity in cardiac patients can be compared to mild to moderate physical activity. The related energy expenditure of sexual activity falls in the range of three to five metabolic units (METs), which can be compared to the energy needed to climb three flights of stairs, general housework, or gardening.Information about sexual activity is often overlooked by health care professionals treating HF patients. Advice and counselling about this subject are needed to decrease worries of patients and partners, avoid skipping medication because of fear for side effects, or prevent inappropriate use of potency enhancing drugs or herbs.

show abstract

Sexual Counseling in Patients With Heart Failure

Abstract: Cardiac nurses in Germany rarely practice sexual counseling. It is a phenomenon that is silent. Education and skill-based training might hold potential to "break the silence."

Cited by 23 publications

References 32 publications

Participants’ Experiences of a Sexual Counseling Intervention During Cardiac Rehabilitation

Participants’ Experiences of a Sexual Counseling Intervention During Cardiac Rehabilitation

Exploration of clients living with HIV needs for reporting on experiences with sex

Sexual function of patients with heart failure: facts and numbers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About