The effect of sexual counseling on depression, anxiety, stress, sexual knowledge and sexual quality of life in men who have undergone invasive coronary interventions: An RCT

Background: Sexual dysfunctions are common in men with ischemic heart disease, especially in men undergoing therapeutic interventions. Objective: This study intended to assess the effect of counseling on depression, anxiety, stress, sexual knowledge and sexual quality of life in men after invasive coronary interventions in the post catheterization department of Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital during 2018. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 54 male participants who had undergone an invasive coronary intervention. The intervention group received counseling and the control group underwent the standard ward routine. Data were collected using the depression anxiety stress scales, Abraham’s sexual quality of life, and the Yi-Hung Sexual Knowledge questionnaires before discharge and also two months later. Results: Within two months, the intervention group’s mean score of sexual knowledge significantly increased, compared with the control group, from 12.37 to 14.81 (p ≤ 0.001). The intervention group’s mean score of sexual quality of life also significantly increased, compared with the control group, from 48.2 to 60.7 (p ≤ 0.001). Moreover, the mean anxiety score changed in the intervention group from 11.18 to 5.25, again a significant difference compared with the control group (p = 0.01). But, the differences in the depression and stress scores were not significant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that sexual counseling may improve sexual knowledge, sexual quality of life and anxiety in men following invasive coronary intervention, but might not reduce their stress or depression. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. Key words: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, Coronary artery bypass graft, Life quality, Depression, Anxiety neuroses, Sex counseling.

Iranian nurses’ perspective of barriers to sexual counseling for patients with myocardial infarction

Background Sexual counseling is an essential part of cardiac rehabilitation. This study aimed to investigate Iranian nurses’ perceptions of barriers to sexual counseling for patients with myocardial infarction. Methods This cross-sectional study included 169 nurses who worked in CCUs, Post CCUs, and cardiac surgery wards of teaching hospitals in southeastern Iran. The barriers to providing sexual counseling inventory was used to assess sexual counseling barriers for patients with myocardial infarction. SPSS 19 was used to analyze the data. The significance level was 0.05. This study lasted from November 2019 to March 2020. Results The results showed that the highest mean scores for patient-related barriers were related to the patient’s religion and belief (2.83 ± 0.52) and embarrassment (2.82 ± 0.52 %). The highest scores for nurse-related barriers were related to nurse’s discomfort in discussing sexual issues (2.67 ± 0.62), a lack of experience in sexual counseling (2.62 ± 0.65), and sexual hesitation in advising patients (2.57 ± 0.7). The highest mean scores for organizational barriers were a lack of managerial attention and support for counseling (2.67 ± 0.66) and a lack of proper supervision system (2.62 ± 0.72). Conclusions Religion/beliefs, embarrassment and a lack of managerial attention and support for counseling were the most important barriers in the organizational, nursing and patient domains. Since sexuality is a significant issue in most cultures and religions, particularly in Islamic countries, health care professionals should work to change the attitudes of patients towards sexuality through sexual health education and counseling to meet patients’ needs and improve their sexual health.

Iranian Nurses’ Perspective of Barriers to Sexual Counseling For Patients With Myocardial Infarction

Background: Sexual counseling is an important component of cardiac rehabilitation that. This study aimed to investigate Iranian nurses’ perspective of barriers to sexual counseling for patients with myocardial infarction. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 169 nurses. Instruments included demographic characteristics and barriers to providing sexual counseling. Results: The strongest barrier was related to patients’ religion, and belief (2.83 ± 0.52) and embarrassment (2.82 ± 0.52%), the nurses are not comfortable discussing sexual issues (2.67 ± 0.62), lack of experience in the field of sexual counseling (2.62 ± 0.65), and sexual hesitation in advising patients (2.57 ± 0.7). About organizational barriers, the highest mean scores were related to the lack of support from managers (2.67 ± 0.66) and the lack of a proper supervision system (2.62 ± 0.72). Conclusion: patient-related barriers were the most common barriers rooted in the culture dominant in society regarding sex issues. Therefore, it should be cultured through continuing education and the mass media so as not to be perceived as a taboo in health care settings. Health professionals should be change the attitudes of patients towards sexuality through sexual health education and counseling to meet patients' needs and improve their sexual health.