Seksuell helse hos eldre.

Good sexual health promotes quality of life and coping skills, and this also applies to older adults. This clinical review article presents updated knowledge on older adults' sexuality, normal challenges related to ageing and conjugal relationships, and sexual challenges caused by chronic diseases, adverse effects of medications, and cognitive failure. The review describes measures to improve sexual health. Healthcare personnel should take the initiative to talk about sexual health with older adults.

How patients experience discussing couple relationship problems with general practitioners: an interview study.

BACKGROUND: Couple relationship satisfaction is related to good physical and mental health and longevity. Many patients have discussed or wish to discuss their couple relationship with their general practitioner (GP) and look for personalised care and support when discussing topics they perceive as sensitive. AIM: To explore patient experiences of discussing couple relationship problems in GP consultations. DESIGN & SETTING: Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews with patients from general practice. METHOD: Individual interviews with 18 patients who had discussed their couple relationship with their GP. Participants were recruited through both social and traditional media, and all interviews were digitally recorded. The purposive sample comprised thirteen women and five men, representing diverse age groups, backgrounds, and relationship problems. All participants identified as heterosexual. We analysed interview data thematically using systematic text condensation. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged: (i) GPs in a facilitating role, not on an assembly line; (ii) Navigating the "elephant in the room"; (iii) GPs as biomedically competent life witnesses. GP continuity was vital in fostering the trust required to discuss sensitive topics, such as relationship issues. Participants valued a biopsychosocial approach which incorporated knowledge of close relationships into medical consultations. They appreciated both GP support and constructive challenges that prompted them to take responsibility for relationship improvements. CONCLUSION: Patients value their GPs' holistic, supportive, and direct approach in addressing couple relationship problems, although they perceive that GPs do not always have sufficient time. They welcome relevant challenges that can drive positive change.

Couple relationship problems-a task for the general practitioner? A cross-sectional survey from Norway.

BACKGROUND: A healthy couple relationship is a predictor of good health. There is a lack of knowledge about what role family and couples counselling should have in general practice. OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence of patients who have talked, or want to talk, with their general practitioner (GP) about their couple relationship, to investigate what characterizes these patients and to explore whether they believe that couple relationship problems should be dealt with in general practice. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 70 general practices in Norway during spring 2019. A questionnaire was answered by 2178 consecutive patients (response rate 75%) in GP waiting rooms. Data were examined using frequencies and linear and logistic regression models. RESULTS: We included 2097 responses. Mean age was 49.0 years and 61.3% were women. One in four (25.0%) had already talked with their GP about couple relationship problems, while one in three (33.5%) wanted to talk with their GP about their couple relationship problems. These patients more frequently had experience of divorce, poor self-rated health, an opinion that their couple relationship had a significant impact on their health and lower couple relationship quality when adjusted for age, sex, present marital status and children living at home. We found that 46.4% of patients believed that GPs should be interested in their couple relationship problems. CONCLUSION: Relationship problems are frequently addressed in general practice. GPs should be prepared to discuss this issue to facilitate help for couples earlier than they might otherwise expect.