BARRIERS FACED BY CARDIAC PHYSICIANS IN PROVIDING SEXUAL COUNSELLING TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES PATIENTS

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical practice of cardiac physicians in providing sexual counseling to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) patients and to identify possible barriers towards sexual health discussion. Discussion regarding sexual complications among patients with CVD is a less frequent clinical practice and various barriers, patient-related, system-related, and cultural factors that prevent cardiac physicians to remain silent on this important aspect. Methodology: In this study an online survey was conducted with practicing cardiac physicians at various cardiac centers of Pakistan regarding discussing sexual problems in CVD patients. Results: Out of 151 physicians 77.5% (117) were male and the mean age was 32.8±5.9 years. A 52.6% physicians and 49.7% newly diagnosed (≤3 months) CVD patients rarely or never discuss or report sexual issues, for old diagnosed (>3 months) patients these figures were 59.0% and 76.8% respectively. Only 40.4%, 41.1%, and 38.7%, of the physicians, claimed to have adequate knowledge, awareness, and confidence respectively about dealing with sexual problems. Commonly reported barriers were physicians personal attitudes and beliefs about sexuality (55.0%), the perception that it is someone else’s job (51.0%), sexuality not seen as a problem by the patient (48.3%), and the age difference between physicians and patients (40.4%). Conclusion: We observed poor practice, inadequate knowledge, and lack of awareness among cardiac physicians regarding discussing sexual health.