[Evaluation of the information on sexual activity provided to patients with acute coronary syndrome]. / Evaluación de la información sobre actividad sexual proporcionada a pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo.

INTRODUCTION: It is common for the nursing staff to report on aspects such as feeding, medication, physical activity, control of other diseases, toxic habits and driving in the acute phase of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, we overlook such a vital aspect of the human being such as sexuality. Thus, we propose the following objectives: 1. describe the information provided to the patients diagnosed of ACS on possible sexual alteration; 2. evaluate the demand for information by the patients on how their disease will affect their sexual activity; and 3. evaluate the patient's interest in receiving this information. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive study has been performed on 55 patients admitted to the Coronary Unit between November 2004 and April 2005, who were diagnosed of ACS after 72 hours by means of a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 89.1% were male with mean age of 55 years and 63.3% had not received information and thought that the stroke would not affect their sexual life, 55.6% being concerned. A total of 7.4% thought that they could reinitiate their sexual activity at 6 months while 9.3% thought that it could never happen. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Most of the patients had not received information on possible alterations in their sexual activity. 2. Most wanted to have information before the discharge and a minority did not consider that it was important to have information on the subject for different reasons. 3. The young subjects were the most interested in acquiring knowledge due to the importance they gave to their sexual activity.

Evaluación de la información sobre actividad sexual proporcionada a pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo / Evaluation of the information on sexual activity provided to patients with acute coronarym syndrome

Introducción. Es habitual en la fase aguda delsíndrome coronario agudo (SCA) que enfermeríainforme sobre aspectos como la alimentación, lamedicación, la actividad física, el control de otrasenfermedades, los hábitos tóxicos y la conducción devehículos. Sin embargo, ignoramos un aspecto tanvital del ser humano como la sexualidad, por lo quenos propusimos los siguientes objetivos: 1. describirla información proporcionada a los pacientesdiagnosticados de SCA sobre posibles alteracionessexuales; 2. evaluar la demanda de información porparte de los pacientes sobre cómo afectará suenfermedad a su actividad sexual; y 3. evaluar elinterés en recibir esta información por parte de lospacientes.Metodología. Se ha llevado a cabo un estudiodescriptivo sobre 55 pacientes ingresados en unaUnidad Coronaria entre el mes de noviembre de 2004y el mes de abril de 2005, diagnosticados de SCA, apartir de las 72 horas mediante un cuestionarioautoadministrado.Resultados. El porcentaje correspondiente a varonesfue del 89,1%, con una edad media de 55 años. El63,6% no había recibido información y pensaba queel infarto no afectaría a su vida sexual, aunquepreocupaba a un 55,6%. El 7,4% pensaba que podríareanudar la actividad sexual a los 6 meses, mientrasque el 9,3% pensaba que no podría reanudarla nuncamás.Conclusiones. 1. Una mayoría de pacientes no habíarecibido información sobre posibles alteraciones enla actividad sexual. 2. Una mayoría quiere tenerinformación antes del alta y una minoría no consideraimportante tener información sobre el tema pordiferentes razones. 3. Fueron los jóvenes los másinteresados en adquirir conocimientos por laimportancia que daban a su actividad sexual

Introduction. It is common for the nursing staff toreport on aspects such as feeding, medication,physical activity, control of other diseases, toxichabits and driving in the acute phase of acutecoronary syndrome (ACS). However, we overlooksuch a vital aspect of the human being such assexuality. Thus, we propose the following objectives:1. describe the information provided to the patientsdiagnosed of ACS on possible sexual alteration; 2.evaluate the demand for information by thepatients on how their disease will affect their sexualactivity; and 3. evaluate the patient’s interest inreceiving this information.Methodology. A descriptive study has beenperformed on 55 patients admitted to the CoronaryUnit between November 2004 and April 2005, whowere diagnosed of ACS after 72 hours by means ofa self-administered questionnaire.Results. A total of 89.1% were male with mean ageof 55 years and 63.3% had not receivedinformation and thought that the stroke would notaffect their sexual life, 55.6% being concerned. Atotal of 7.4% thought that they could reinitiate theirsexual activity at 6 months while 9.3% thought thatit could never happen.Conclusions. 1. Most of the patients had notreceived information on possible alterations intheir sexual activity. 2. Most wanted to haveinformation before the discharge and a minoritydid not consider that it was important to haveinformation on the subject for different reasons. 3.The young subjects were the most interested inacquiring knowledge due to the importance theygave to their sexual activity