Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care
Volume 38, Issue 4 , Pages 330-335, July 2009

Information from health care professionals about sexual function and coexistence after myocardial infarction: A Swedish national survey

  • Bodil Ivarsson, RN, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: Bodil Ivarsson, RN, PhD, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden
    • ,
  • Bengt Fridlund, RNT, PhD

      Affiliations

    • School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Växjö University, Växjö, Sweden
    • School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
    • ,
  • Trygve Sjöberg, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

published online 17 February 2009.

Background

After a myocardial infarction (MI), many patients and their partners experience problems with marital and sexual life.

Methods

A Swedish national survey was carried out to obtain knowledge on the information provided by cardiac health care professionals on the subject of sexual function and coexistence after an MI. It consisted of a questionnaire that was designed, tested, and sent to 121 coronary care units.

Results

The coronary care unit teams rarely provided oral or written information about sexual function and coexistence to patients with MI or their partners. The health care professionals lacked competence in these areas.

Conclusion

It is essential that health care professionals are educated on and inform the patient with MI about the significance of sexual function and coexistence. Further research is required regarding patients' and their partners' need for information and support in this area.

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 12.00 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 This study was supported by grants from the Southern Sweden Nurse's Home and the Ottar Foundation.

PII: S0147-9563(09)00002-8

doi:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2009.01.001

Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care
Volume 38, Issue 4 , Pages 330-335, July 2009

Article Tools