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. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.
CITATION STYLE
Hoekstra, T., Lesman-Leegte, I., Couperus, M. F., Sanderman, R., & Jaarsma, T. (2012). What keeps nurses from the sexual counseling of patients with heart failure? Heart and Lung: Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 41(5), 492–499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2012.04.009
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