Perspectives of nurses and patients on the need for sexual counseling of MI patients

Abstract

The concept of sexual integrity was used to analyze nurses' and patients' perceptions of the need to provide sexual counseling for patients in the acute care setting who have had a myocardial infarction. A qualitative approach with content analysis was used. Data were categorized using the determinants of sexual integrity: self-identity, communication, and environment. For patients, self-identity and communication were the predominant themes that emerged from the data. A lack of information related to issues of sexual functioning was the most prominent subcategory. The nurses' responses contained all three determinants of sexual integrity; roles, lack of information, use of verbal and nonverbal communication, and lack of time were the most prominent subcategories emerging from the data. The findings indicate a need to provide information to patients and nurses on sexual counseling.