Sexual counselling for sexual problems in patients with cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Background Sexual problems are common among people with cardiovascular disease. Although clinical guidelines recommend sexual counselling for patients and their partners, there is little evidence on its effectiveness. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of sexual counselling interventions (in comparison to usual care) on sexuality-related outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease and their partners. Search methods We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and three other databases up to 2 March 2015 and two trials registers up to 3 February 2016. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs, including individual and cluster RCTs. We included studies that compared any intervention to counsel adult cardiac patients about sexual problems with usual care. Data collection and analysis We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Main results We included three trials with 381 participants. We were unable to pool the data from the included studies due to the differences in interventions used; therefore we synthesised the trial findings narratively. 1 Sexual counselling for sexual problems in patients with cardiovascular disease (Review)

Barriers and Promoting Strategies to Sexual Health Assessment for Patients with Coronary Artery Diseases in Nursing Practice: A Literature Review

“…Several authors reported adequately that assessment of sexual matters is an important factor to prevent loss of sexual activity [23]. Providing patients with sexual health information shows a significant improvement in patients' sexual interest and satisfaction through decreasing patients' and partner level of anxiety and fear from engaging in sexual activities and improve patients' sexual life [22]. It is clear enough that sexual health assessment is an important nursing task [25].…”

“…Patients with CADs are eager to return to their routine after discharge. However, resuming sexual activities is viewed as a challenging activity by patients and their partners [22]. Miner and Kim found that men and their partners have a great concern when they can resume sexual activity safely after CADs [13].…”

“…Lack of sexual education for patients with MI was a leading cause of absence or less frequent sexual activity in both male and female patients [23] [24]. Therefore, providing patients with sexual health information aids in improving patients' sexual interest and satisfaction through decreasing patients' and partner level of anxiety and fear from engaging in sexual activities and improve patients' sexual life [22]. Providing sexual health in-structions for patients with CADs is an essential nursing task [25].…”

Sexuality: assessment, challenges and way forward in nursing profession

“…Lack of sexual education for patients will lead to absence or less frequent sexual activity in both male and female patients (Jaarsma et al, 2010). Therefore, providing patients with sexual health information aids in improving patients' sexual interest and satisfaction through decreasing patients' and partner level of anxiety and fear from engaging in sexual activities and improve patients' sexual life (Byrne et al, 2014) Despite supporting evidence and increased attention to sexual health assessment over the years, it is still a challenge for many nurses to address sexual health in practices.…”

Sexual Counselling in Cardiac Rehabilitation: An Urgent Need for More Consideration and Study

“…It is still controversial whether the addition of a formal sexual counselling intervention in the context of CR is actually necessary to improve sexual function for these patients. 4 A Cochrane systematic review published in 2016 19 found only 3 trials about this topic. Of these, 1 proposed a highly intensive intervention (eg, 5 hours of sexual therapy provided by a sex therapist) to effectively decrease the time taken to resume sexual activity after a cardiac event, and to improve selfreported sexual function and satisfaction.…”