Abstract

OBJECTIVES
We sought to examine the current practice of discussing sexual health by heart failure (HF) nurses, and to explore which barriers prevent nurses from discussing sexuality.
METHODS
The Nurses' Survey of Sexual Counseling of Myocardial Infarction Patients and a list of barriers were used to form a questionnaire, which was sent to all HF clinics (n = 122) in the Netherlands.
RESULTS
The majority (75%) of nurses (n = 146) felt a certain responsibility to discuss patients' sexual health. However, in practice, 61% of the nurses rarely or never addressed sexuality. Barriers that prevented nurses from addressing sexuality and that differed between nurses who do (n = 58) and do not (n = 88) discuss sexuality include a lack of organizational policy (49% vs. 79%, respectively; P < .001) and lack of training (43% vs. 80%, respectively; P < .001), and not knowing how to initiate the subject (24% vs. 72%, respectively; P < .001). Nurses preferred to address sexuality during a follow-up visit or when discussing medication.
CONCLUSIONS
Although HF nurses feel responsible for discussing sexuality, this topic is rarely addressed in clinics. Several barriers were identified, relating to personal, patient, and organizational factors.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Hoekstra T, Lesman-Leegte I, Couperus MF, Sanderman R, Jaarsma T

Institution

Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. t.hoekstra@umcg.nl

Source

Heart & lung : the journal of critical care 41:5 pg 492-9

MeSH

Adult
Anxiety
Attitude of Health Personnel
Cardiac Care Facilities
Female
Heart Failure
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Netherlands
Nurse-Patient Relations
Nursing Staff
Questionnaires
Sex Counseling

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22698928