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