Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.
J Clin Nurs. 2023 Oct;32(19-20):7382-7389. doi: 10.1111/jocn.16775. Epub 2023 Jun 7.
This study aimed to explore how women with heart failure experience intimacy and sexual activity.
Knowledge about women diagnosed with heart failure and their sexual activity is scarce. By investigating the experience of sexual activity and intimacy of women diagnosed with heart failure, an alignment between current practice and patients' expectations and needs within this area might be obtained.
A qualitative design was used.
Fifteen women diagnosed with heart failure were recruited from a heart failure outpatient clinic at a university hospital. The study was carried out from January to September 2018. The inclusion criteria were women >18 years, with estimated New York Heart Association Class II or III living together with a partner. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were undertaken at the hospital. The interviews were organised around a set of predetermined open-ended questions, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a qualitative content analysis. COREQ guidelines were used.
The analysis revealed one overarching theme characterises how living with heart failure has an impact on women's sexual relationship. Furthermore, three sub-themes were identified: (1) redefining sexual activity, (2) reducing sexual activity and (3) maintaining sexual activity.
Women need information about sexual activity and heart failure in order to prevent fear and anxiety. It is important to include partners in patient consultations at heart failure outpatient clinics and in sexual counselling. It is furthermore essential to educate patients about sexual activity in relation to medication and comorbidities.
Findings from this study support that information about sexuality and intimacy is a central part of the consultation in a heart failure outpatient clinic, and highlights the importance of not making assumptions about aging, frailty and interest in sexual expression.
Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews.
本研究旨在探讨心力衰竭女性如何体验亲密关系和性行为。
关于诊断为心力衰竭的女性及其性行为的知识很少。通过调查诊断为心力衰竭的女性的性行为和亲密关系体验，可以了解当前实践与该领域患者的期望和需求之间的一致性。
采用定性设计。
从一家大学医院的心衰门诊招募了 15 名被诊断为心力衰竭的女性。研究于 2018 年 1 月至 9 月进行。纳入标准为年龄>18 岁，预计纽约心脏协会心功能分级 II 或 III 级，与伴侣共同生活。在医院进行面对面的半结构化访谈。访谈围绕一组预定的开放式问题进行，逐字记录并使用定性内容分析进行分析。使用了 COREQ 指南。
分析结果揭示了一个总主题，描述了心力衰竭如何影响女性的性关系。此外，还确定了三个子主题：（1）重新定义性行为，（2）减少性行为，（3）维持性行为。
女性需要有关性行为和心力衰竭的信息，以防止恐惧和焦虑。在心力衰竭门诊患者咨询中，包括伴侣，并进行性咨询非常重要。此外，教育患者了解与药物和合并症相关的性行为也至关重要。
本研究结果支持在心力衰竭门诊咨询中，有关性行为和亲密关系的信息是咨询的核心部分，并强调了不要对衰老、虚弱和对性表达的兴趣做出假设的重要性。
数据通过面对面半结构化访谈收集。
