Sexual counselling for patients with cardiovascular disease: protocol for a pilot study of the CHARMS sexual counselling intervention

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Authors
Murphy, Patrick J.
McSharry, Jenny
Casey, Dympna
Doherty, Sally
Gillespie, Paddy
Jaarsma, Tiny
Murphy, Andrew W.
Newell, John
O'Donnell, Martin
Steinke, Elaine E.
Advisors
Issue Date
2016
Type
Article
Keywords
Cardiac rehabilitation , Complex interventions , Sexual counselling , Pilot and feasibility studies , Cardiovascular disease
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Murphy, Patrick J.; Mc Sharry, Jenny; Casey, Dympna; Doherty, Sally; Gillespie, Paddy; Jaarsma, Tiny; Murphy, Andrew W.; Newell, John; O'Donnell, Martin; Steinke, Elaine E.; Toomey, Elaine; Byrne, Molly. 2016. Sexual counselling for patients with cardiovascular disease: protocol for a pilot study of the CHARMS sexual counselling intervention. BMJ OPEN, vol. 6:no. 6:Article Number: e011219
Abstract

Introduction Sexual problems are common with cardiovascular disease, and can negatively impact quality of life. To address sexual problems, guidelines have identified the importance of sexual counselling during cardiac rehabilitation, yet this is rarely provided. The Cardiac Health and Relationship Management and Sexuality (CHARMS) intervention aims to improve the provision of sexual counselling in cardiac rehabilitation in Ireland.

Methods and analysis This is a multicentre pilot study for the CHARMS intervention, a complex, multilevel intervention delivered within hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes. The intervention includes (1) training in sexual counselling for staff, (2) a staff-led patient education and support intervention embedded within the cardiac rehabilitation programme, (3) a patient information booklet and (4) an awareness raising poster. The intervention will be delivered in two randomly selected cardiac rehabilitation centres. In each centre 30 patients will be recruited, and partners will also be invited to participate. Data will be collected from staff and patients/partners at T1 (study entry), T2 (3-month follow-up) and T3 (6-month follow-up). The primary outcome for patients/partners will be scores on the Sexual Self-Perception and Adjustment Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes for patients/partners will include relationship satisfaction; satisfaction with and barriers to sexual counselling in services; sexual activity, functioning and knowledge; physical and psychological well-being. Secondary outcomes for staff will include sexuality-related practice; barriers to sexual counselling; self-ratings of capability, opportunity and motivation; sexual attitudes and beliefs; knowledge of cardiovascular disease and sex. Fidelity of intervention delivery will be assessed using trainer self-reports, researcher-coded audio recordings and exit interviews. Longitudinal feasibility data will be gathered from patients/partners and staff via questionnaires and interviews.

Ethics and dissemination This study is approved by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of the National University of Ireland, Galway. Findings will be disseminated to cardiac rehabilitation staff, patients/partners and relevant policymakers via appropriate publications and presentations.

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Description
This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
Journal
Book Title
Series
BMJ Open;v.6:no.6
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
2044-6055
EISSN